Why do people around so often criticize young mothers?

Our society is often cruel to young mothers. According to a recent study, more than half of women who have recently given birth to children admit that others criticize them for raising children.

Who most often criticizes young mothers

Such a conviction is most often found among family members. A new study reveals that 37 percent of young mothers are criticized by their parents, 31 percent report criticism from other relatives, and 36 percent report criticism from their spouse. According to mothers, most often they are criticized for discipline methods.

These data were obtained during a national web survey conducted on behalf of the Children's Hospital at the University of Michigan. A total of 475 women participated in it, who have children over the age of 5 years.

Shame and shame

According to the survey, 61 percent of mothers of small children admitted that at some point they were ashamed of the methods of education that they use. 23 percent of women said they had to listen to criticism from three or more people. Moreover, most often the role of "critics" was played by the family of a young mother, not friends, strangers or "experts" in social networks, as one would expect. Only 12 percent of the women interviewed reported that they had experienced public criticism of other mothers, while 14 percent reported criticism from friends, and 8 percent reported from doctors. Only 7% of young mothers said that their methods of education were criticized by users on the Internet.

These findings, most likely, reflect the fact that young mothers communicate more often with members of their family, rather than with online trolls. Also, the results may indicate that the mothers of young children are more sensitive to criticism of their relatives, because it is from them that support is expected, and not condemnation.

70% of women who were criticized told that others did not like the discipline methods that mothers used with regard to their children. Their decisions on the diet and nutrition of children were criticized in 52% of cases. Also, 46% of women say that others criticized their decisions regarding the order of sleeping babies. 39 percent of mothers said that others disliked their decision to feed their baby from a bottle, not breastfeeding, and 20 percent said they were being condemned because of child safety issues. In addition, 16% of respondents said that others criticized the decision to take care of children.

Reaction to criticism

The reaction of mothers to the condemnation of relatives, friends and strangers also differed. 60 percent of women started to look for information on those issues of upbringing that were criticized, and 53 percent decided to seek advice from a pediatrician. 42% of female critics on the part caused doubts about their maternal qualities, and 37% said that the conviction at some point made them change their behavior. Half of all mothers who were criticized began to avoid the people who condemned them.

56 percent of women stopped criticizing other mothers after they themselves began to condemn others.

Maternal anxiety

Information on the rules of upbringing, feeding and safety, which falls on a young mother, may seem overwhelming, the researchers report in their report. A prolonged and pronounced form of maternal anxiety is a problem not only for women, but also for her child. For a young mother who constantly struggles with anxiety, one seemingly innocent comment can be a turning point. The good news is that a woman can and should consult a pediatrician with any questions that concern her child. Medical workers should encourage young mothers to seek advice from them to ensure the health and safety of the baby.