Here are the 7 parenting trends you’ll see more of in 2024

Much like the shifting popularity of mom jeans, pickleball, or “quiet luxury,” the world of parenting is subject to its own evolving trends.

In recent years, we have seen the rise of helicopter parenting, the spectacle of elaborate gender reveal parties, and the common struggle of overscheduling our children’s lives.

What can we expect in 2024? Here are several predictions regarding the direction of parenting in the year ahead.

Parents are well-versed in the major milestones of child development—the first smile, the first steps, or the first day of daycare. However, there is a growing movement toward celebrating growth by the inch rather than the mile.

Pinterest predicts that 2024 will see parents focusing on “inchstones,” which they describe as “tiny triumphs (that) will make the heart grow fonder as parents sprinkle party vibes on their kids’ not-so-grand moments.” The platform points to rising search interest in “my first tooth party,” “baby naming ceremonies,” and “end of year school party ideas” as indicators of this shift.

The concept itself is not entirely new. Families, particularly those raising children with special needs, have long used the term to acknowledge the small victories their children achieve.

Dr. Tovah P. Klein, author of “How Toddlers Thrive” and director of the Barnard College Center for Toddler Development, notes that it makes sense to honor these smaller wins. “Development happens inch by inch, but we tend to only notice the big leaps,” she says.

Achievements like learning to say “water,” holding a pacifier, or putting on shoes independently may not seem like major photo opportunities, but they are worthy of recognition. Furthermore, the parents who put in the work to help their children reach these inchstones deserve to be celebrated as well.

The future of potty training may look quite different.

For years, pediatricians have generally advised American parents to wait until a child shows interest in using the toilet, typically between the ages of 2 and 3. However, a method known as elimination communication (EC)—while not a new concept—is currently gaining traction.

Celebrity moms such as Mayim Bialik, Alicia Silverstone, and “Bachelor” alum Bekah Martinez have all spoken about their experiences with this approach.

EC, which has been a standard practice for generations in countries like Iran, Vietnam, and Kenya where disposable diapers are not always readily available, involves parents tuning into their baby’s cues. By positioning an infant over a potty to “catch” waste, and pairing the action with a whistling or hissing sound, parents can eventually teach the baby to wait until they are on the potty to go.

“It just makes biological sense,” says Andrea Olson, founder of GoDiaperFree.com. “Babies give cues for eliminating, just like they do for hunger, sleep and comfort.”

When seeking inspiration for baby names, parents are increasingly looking toward familiar, classic themes.

“Modern cowboy names are a style that will be more popular,” said Laura Wattenberg, the creator of Namerology.

High-profile parents like Anderson Cooper, who named his son Wyatt, and Reese Witherspoon and Jim Toth, who have a son named Tennessee, were ahead of the curve on this front.

Expect to see more babies named Hayes, Stetson, Sage, or Tate throughout the year.

Yee-haw!

The “gentle parenting” philosophy has dominated social media feeds lately, and its influence is evident in a recent University of Michigan survey of 2,044 parents with children under 18.

Nearly half of mothers and one-third of fathers set parenting-related goals or resolutions. Of those, 78 percent expressed a desire to cultivate more patience, a core component of gentle parenting. Yet, parental authority appears to be making a comeback, potentially evolving gentle parenting into a new iteration.

Nearly half of the goal-setting parents (47 percent) indicated they want to be more consistent with discipline—a term that is rarely emphasized within the gentle parenting community.

Klein, who says she is wary of the term “gentle parenting,” views modern discipline as distinct from the punitive measures of the past. Rather than relying on spanking or timeouts, today’s parents are increasingly establishing firm boundaries and limits, providing children with a clear roadmap for behavior and expectations.

“Sharenting,” or the practice of posting the ups and downs of raising children online, is certainly not a new phenomenon. We have been tracking this trend since 2015, and it continues to gain momentum each year, though parents are becoming more intentional about what they share.

It is easy to feel the urge to post photos of our children, especially when they are so adorable that you want the entire world to see them.

Kate Blocker, Director of Research and Programs at Children and Screens: Institute of Digital Media and Child Development, warns parents that they are establishing “a digital footprint for their child from the very first post, often long before the child can even understand what that means.” She suggests that parents ask older children for permission before sharing anything about them online.

Leah Plunkett, author of “Sharenthood” and professor at Harvard Law School, offers a slightly different perspective. She suggests only posting content if you “would be comfortable seeing that post on a billboard by the side of the highway in their hometown and by every other highway in the world, now and forever. If that brick-and-mortar highway hypothetical makes you cringe, it’s best not to hit ‘post.'”

Plunkett anticipates that while the trend will continue to grow, it will also face “increasing scrutiny from lawmakers, especially when the sharenting is being done commercially by kid-influencers or family influencers.”

Videos regarding “estranged parents” have become increasingly common on TikTok. Licensed marriage and family therapist Whitney Goodman explains that the term “estranged” is used when an adult child intentionally ends contact with a parent, or vice versa.

Goodman notes that while the number of people pausing family relationships may not be rising, more individuals are feeling comfortable sharing their experiences openly on social media.

In the past, those who wished to distance themselves from family could simply move to a different city. However, in an era of constant digital connectivity, expectations for ongoing contact between adults and their parents remain high.

“Boundaries usually have to be explicitly stated,” she says.

A decade ago, an Anglican priest from Knoxville, Tennessee, wrote about the concept of “scruffy hospitality” on his website.

Before Reverend Jack King and his wife hosted guests, they would complete a long list of chores to transform their messy house into “the presentable, acceptable-for-hospitality version of our home.”

Does that sound familiar?

With two children under the age of 3, the couple eventually realized that their friendships were more important than a tidy house. They understood that if they waited for their home to be spotless before inviting people over, they would never host anyone at all.

The concept, which has been featured in numerous articles, appears to be making a comeback.

Throughout 2023, parents not only welcomed friends into their untidy homes but even shared tours of the chaos on TikTok. Tired of the perfection often portrayed on social media, parents are beginning to embrace the reality of a home that looks truly lived-in.

There is nothing wrong with tidying up before company arrives. But before you grab the vacuum, ask yourself: “Are our friends coming to see the house, or are they coming to see us?”