‘Tough’ love philosophy not good for kids

A GROUP of researchers is calling on mothers and fathers to abandon parenting methods like letting babies “cry it out,” excessively structuring their children’s leisure time, and allowing strollers and car seats to do the babysitting — strategies that have led to worse life outcomes for American youth, they charge.

Presented recently at a symposium at the University of Notre Dame’s Center for Children and Families in the United States (US) state of Indiana, the findings run counter to commonly accepted, decades-old parenting practices which espouse a “tough love” philosophy, such as letting babies cry themselves back to sleep.