Unwanted parenting advice is extremely common. Every parent has been told many times how they should raise their kids, and what they are doing "wrong." When you're tempted to tell parents what they should and shouldn't do, think twice before speaking. Parenting is stressful enough, and people really won't appreciate your advice, however well-meaning it may be. Here are some pieces of parenting advice that you shouldn't give to other parents …

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1. Discipline

One piece of parenting advice you should never give is how other people should discipline their children. Telling them that they should smack their child/ send them to bed/ yell at them is guaranteed to meet with a frosty response. Parents need to decide among themselves how they should best discipline their child; you're not the child's parent, so you have no say in the matter.

2. At Her Age, She Should Be …

Every parent will have encountered the self-appointed expert who loudly proclaims their opinions on when a child should reach certain milestones. They'll tell you that when their little angel was the same age he had already submitted his PhD. Don't tell anyone that a child should be doing certain things by a certain age. Children are all different, and will learn to walk or develop a vocabulary in their own good time.

3. When to Stop Breast Feeding

Even expert opinions differ on how long you should breast-feed a child for. Even if you think that a woman is breast-feeding a child that is far too old, keep quiet. It's not for you to decide when she should stop. A mother and her child will stop when the time is right for them.

4. Birth Plans

Have you ever met the type of woman who pontificates about how having a Caesarian isn't really giving birth? Never give other women advice on their birth plan if they haven't asked for it. Giving birth is such a personal experience that other people's opinions shouldn't come into it. The only other opinion that counts is that of her obstetrician and midwife.

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5. Size of Family

Most parents have heard this at some point. They've been told that having an only child is selfish, or that they can't afford a larger family. It seems that whatever people do is wrong! Nobody wants to hear opinions on how big their family should be, so keep your comments to yourself.

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6. Diet

Vegetarian parents get a lot of criticism from others. But it's entirely up to the parents if they want to bring their child up on a vegetarian diet. This is perfectly healthy providing the parents ensure that the child gets all the nutrition they need from vegetarian sources. Also, don't tell anyone how that they should force their child to eat new foods or that giving them treats is harmful.

7. Pacifiers

Many parents who give their children pacifiers will have seen and heard disapproving tuts from strangers, and comments like "it'll deform their teeth." Sometimes a pacifier is the only thing that will calm a fractious child, and you shouldn't judge parents if they decide to use them.

If other parents want advice on child-rearing, they will ask for it. Don't think that you know best, as it will definitely not go down well. You should particularly avoid giving complete strangers unwanted advice on how to bring up their kids. What's the most annoying piece of parenting advice someone's ever given you?

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

#6 & 7 ....I could write a book on the comments made on these subjects back when my kids were little..

I have to say the worst is getting pushed into a parenting style from your mother in law from 30 years ago no cool. things are not the same she might have hit her kids with a belt but I wont and it couses problems in the family when you tell your mother in law NO ahhh

Getting unwanted parenting advice from someone that doesn't have kids doesn't mean the person isn't capable of having common sense. Let's face it, just bc someone births a child doesn't mean they know how to parent. For some, maternal instincts just aren't there. I've been a witness to it repeatedly.

Omg love that atticle some ppl just dont know there boundries.

The worst is getting unwanted parenting advice from somebody that never even had kids! I don't care if you have nieces and nephews, if you babysit, are a teacher or nanny... If you never had kids, you have no parenting advice to give!

I agree to an extent, however some advice can be good advice. If only every person who felt the need to give advice would first ask, "would you take it offensively if I gave you some advice?" and the prospective recipient can go from there. Unfortunately no one really does this, and when I've asked, I've been shut down (not always regarding parenting) and that's fine! I didn't piss them off and didn't waste my time :) Sadly much of what is commented in regard to parenting is dished in a demeaning way, so, well, those people just suck ;)

Just going to say I think that it is illegal to not feed babies protein. I don't really know the conditions it's under like age and how much. Just for vegetarians, please check with a doctor because it would be terrible if you got in trouble for it.