Comebacks For Unsolicited Parenting Advice
They say raising a baby takes a village, but who needs that village if they won’t stop commenting on how you should raise your child?
Most new parents deal with unsolicited parenting advice from family members, their friends, and, unfortunately, even strangers on the street! What is it about seeing a seemingly exhausted new parent that inspires strangers to walk up and dole out unwanted advice? It’s one of the many mysteries of life.
If you’d rather be prepared than caught off guard by how you can respond to unwanted parenting advice, this post is for you. We’re covering some clever, funny, and safe responses you can use to redirect advice-givers into doing something more useful with their time.
Funny Comebacks for Unsolicited Parenting Advice
Most people who give unwanted parenting advice are coming from a good place and genuinely want to provide their support. There are times when it can be well received and others where the timing could not be worse. Here is a collection of good comebacks for unsolicited parenting advice you can save for a rainy day.
“What an interesting perspective. Are you a pediatrician?”
Stating the obvious may silence a few advice-givers right in their tracks. This response sends the message that you aren’t annoyed yet, but you may be soon if they keep dishing out unwanted advice!
“Yes, we heard they used to give that advice a few decades ago.”
The not-so-subtle age jab works best on mothers-in-law and aunts who love to chime in. Making a harmless joke about their age and the long-ago time period when they were raising kids may be the perfect way to encourage them to move on from dishing advice.
“I love parenting advice from someone who raised a child 40 years ago!”
Save this one for the sassy grandma’s or older aunts who can’t resist the temptation to lecture you on how to burp your baby.
“I know you raised a kid, but that doesn’t mean you’re qualified to give parenting advice. We’ve all spent time with [their child’s name], and… WOW.”
Slight jabs and snarky responses are great for playful family members or friends who enjoy teasing you and won’t take offense to your snarky reply.
“Ugh, you sound like a much better parent than me. Do you want to take care of her while I go shopping?”
Any variation of this reply is great for strangers who start talking your ear off about how they raised their kids. Obviously, you should never leave your child with a stranger, but maybe it will get a laugh out of them and encourage them to cease and desist with unwarranted advice.
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Safe, Friendly Responses
You may not always be in the mood to come up with a clever, witty response. In the moments where you just want to nip the conversation in the bud, here are a few safe responses that most people won’t be offended by.
“Thanks, but we’ve got it covered.”
This response elicits no reply and will hopefully encourage the advice-giver to change the subject or stop talking to you entirely. Wouldn’t that be nice?!
“It’s great that it worked for your son, but my child…”
This reply shows your respect for their opinion yet clearly states that your child is a completely different person than theirs.
“I can understand why you’d do that, but…”
This response is ideal for mothers-in-law who think they’re always right and may be sensitive to anything less than a respectful answer. Acknowledge their way of doing things, but stand up for yourself too.
“I know you did your best as a parent, and that’s exactly what I’m doing, too.”
This reply allows you to find common ground and relate to the fact that all parents are just trying to raise good people while learning on the fly.
“Thanks for thinking of me and caring enough to share. I’ll let you know if I try that and how it goes.”
This shows that you value what they have to say and may actually give it a try at some point. Even if it doesn’t work out, you can still share your attempts (especially if this is a close member you’ll see again) and have something to discuss the next time you’re together.
“Thank you so much for your advice, but we’re already at capacity.”
Being upfront and honest about what you’re capable of handling is a great way to avoid long conversations about what you should be doing. Expressing early on in the conversation that you aren’t looking for advice or tips sets a clear boundary about what you’re willing to talk about.
Find more ways on How To Respond To Unwanted Parenting Advices!
Final Thoughts on Comebacks For Unsolicited Parenting Advice
As a new parent, advice can come from all angles, family members and friends. Even your other kids may have opinions about the way you do things!
The important thing to remember (aside from strangers on the street) is that anyone in your life who is giving you advice loves you and your baby and wants what’s best for you both. As for strangers on the street, you can be as snarky or polite as you wish.
Trust your gut and do what feels right for you and your baby. At the end of the day, your baby’s health and happiness are all you need to sleep well at night.
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