Are we becoming too paranoid as a society?

[{sarah}]

I'm a bit of a fence sitter on this one as well.

With diet during pregnancy I think it's probably saved a lot of miscarriages by pin-pointing some of the foods that carry listeria. I think people can go a bit far & be very paranoid over it, but I think most people take in the info & use it to their needs. For breastfeeding I wasn't aware that there are such strict restrictions, more so what you learn your baby can & can't tolerate. Having not breastfed I don't really know.

Some of the nursery equipment I think makes people less vigilant, some thinking that the breathing monitor is on the bed therefore bub is ok unless the alarm goes off. I'd prefer to check for myself rather than rely on machinery. JMHO there. Monitors I like purely for being able to hear a crying bub when I am not in earshot ie hanging out washing when bub is asleep.

I think that worrying about the emotional affects of discipline is very important, but I wouldn't say I'm paranoid over it. IMO everything we do, discipline or otherwise is shaping our children's emotional well being & that is a very important thing to concern ourselves with as parents. I guess some people would get paranoid over it & try not to discipline their children because of this, but I think they're making it worse for the child as they have no boundaries.

Lotions & potions aren't necessarily a good thing in my opinion. Certain branded products have been known to cause eczema flare ups in babies & did in Zander. I'm not sure on anyone being paranoid about using these sorts of things though?

[Emma1979]

yes, i pretty much do think things have gone over the top a little... i also think companies know this and are revelling in it, and marketing all these wonderful 'necessary' products to all the mums... but each to their own, whatever makes you feel safer etc...

i pretty much ate whatever i felt like when pregnant... oh the only thing i stayed away from was salad bars, but i don't eat salad from salad bars anyway cos i am paranoid about germs! LOL

and in regards to lotions etc, i think they are a waste of time... i use avacado oil for baby massage and try to use cotton wool and water as much as possible on her bum. i think all the chemicals in the wipes etc are not good for anything.

also, and i know this is going to sound terribly bad, i only occassionally sterilise the dummy. a quick rinse under hot water is usually all it gets (and strange for me as my main paranoia is germs!!). i hope nobody lectures me about the dummy!