If you grew up in the 1990s, your childhood probably looked very different from today’s. For instance, we drank from garden hoses and rode our bikes without helmets. Furthermore, our parents’ primary safety advice was often just to ‘be home before the streetlights come on.’ Consequently, it was a time of unprecedented freedom, at least by modern standards.
Looking back, many of the things our parents did would send a modern parent into a full-blown panic. Although most of us turned out fine, it’s wild to consider how much parenting norms have shifted in just a few decades. Below are eight ‘harmless’ things 90s parents did that would be unthinkable today.
Letting Us Roam the Neighborhood Until Dark
Back in the 90s, the neighborhood felt like our personal kingdom. For example, we often left the house after breakfast and didn’t return until dinner. Our parents had only a vague sense of where we were because there was no way to contact us. In fact, there were no cell phones or GPS trackers, just a general trust that we’d be okay.
In contrast, today’s world feels much different. The idea of an eight-year-old wandering miles from home now terrifies many parents. Ultimately, the rise of 24-hour news cycles and a greater awareness of potential dangers has made ‘free-range’ parenting a rarity.
Leaving Kids in the Car (Briefly!)
Seeing kids left alone in a car was a common sight in the 90s. For instance, a parent might run into the post office for a quick errand while leaving the kids in the car. Although the windows might be cracked and the doors locked, the children remained unsupervised. At the time, parents saw this as a practical way to avoid dragging everyone inside.
Now, this act could get a parent reported to child protective services. Public awareness campaigns have highlighted the dangers of leaving children unattended in vehicles, from heatstroke to abduction. Therefore, it’s a risk no modern parent is willing to take.
No Car Seats for “Big Kids”
Car seat safety in the 90s was basic, to say the least. Specifically, once you grew out of your toddler seat, you could often ride in the backseat with just a lap belt. Consequently, bouncing around in the back of a station wagon was a common road trip experience. After all, laws did not yet mandate booster seats, and few people used them.
Today, however, we have a much deeper understanding of vehicle safety. Children remain in some form of booster seat until they are tall enough for the adult seatbelt to fit them correctly, which is often not until age 10 or 12.
Drinking Water Straight from the Garden Hose
On a hot summer day, for example, nothing felt better than a cool drink from the garden hose. We simply didn’t think twice about it. Besides, it was convenient and right there in the yard where we were playing. Unsurprisingly, our parents saw no issue with this common practice.
However, modern parents would be concerned about the materials in the hose itself. Indeed, we now know that many garden hoses can contain harmful chemicals like lead. As a result, today’s parents are much more likely to hand their kids a BPA-free water bottle.
Sunscreen Was Optional, Sunburns Were Not
In the 90s, sunscreen was often a sticky, low-SPF lotion that people reserved for a long day at the beach. Therefore, for everyday backyard play, parents frequently forgot it. In fact, getting a “good base tan” was a common goal, and peeling sunburns were just a part of summer.
Now, with our current knowledge about skin cancer risks, this approach seems horrifying. Modern moms, for instance, are diligent about applying broad-spectrum sunscreen. Similarly, they often cover their kids in rash guards and sun hats from head to toe.
Secondhand Smoke Was Everywhere
It’s hard to imagine now, but in the 90s, many public places permitted smoking. For example, people smoked in restaurants, cars, and even in their homes with children present. At the time, people did not understand or take the dangers of secondhand smoke as seriously as they do today.
In contrast, most people now view lighting a cigarette in a car with a child as completely unacceptable. After all, research has well-documented the health risks. Consequently, society has made a massive shift to protect children from exposure.
Feeding Us a Diet of Pure Sugar and Carbs
The 90s were certainly the golden age of processed snack foods. Parents filled lunch boxes with sugary fruit roll-ups, colorful drinks, and cartoon-themed crackers. Moreover, breakfast was often a bowl of marshmallow-filled cereal. Although our parents knew it wasn’t ‘health food,’ the long-term impacts did not concern them as much.
Today’s parents, on the other hand, focus much more on nutrition. For example, they are reading labels, avoiding high-fructose corn syrup, and trying to provide a balanced diet. As a result, the 90s snack aisle would be a nightmare for many health-conscious modern moms.
The “Rub Some Dirt On It” Medical Advice
For minor cuts and scrapes, 90s parents often advised us to ‘rub some dirt on it’ or ‘walk it off.’ In fact, they usually reserved a trip to the doctor for broken bones or serious illness. Parents intended for this approach to build toughness and resilience.
While people still value self-reliance, modern parents are undoubtedly more cautious. For instance, they arm themselves with antiseptic wipes and liquid bandages. Furthermore, they have a much lower threshold for seeking professional medical advice because the fear of infection is far greater now.
From Free-Range to Helicopter: How Times Have Changed
Ultimately, it’s easy to look back on these things 90s parents did and judge. However, it’s important to remember that our parents were doing their best with the information of their time. Since then, the world has changed, and our understanding of safety and health has evolved with it.
This shift certainly reflects a greater awareness of risk, for better or worse. So, while we may have lost some of the freedom of a 90s childhood, we’ve also gained a new level of safety. In the end, it’s a trade-off every generation of parents has to navigate.
What’s one thing from your 90s childhood that would never fly today? Comment below!
What to Read Next…
- How Did We Survive? 7 Dangerous Things Everyone Did in the 80s & 90s
- Why Dating in the 80s and 90s Left Us With These 7 Terrible Relationship Habits
- Check Your Attic Now: 9 Childhood Toys From the 80s & 90s That Are Now Worth a Fortune
- 9 Parenting Styles from the 80s That Would Get You Investigated by CPS Today
- 10 School Rules From the ‘80s and ‘90s That Would Get Teachers Fired Today
The post 8 “Harmless” Things Our Parents Did in the 90s That Would Terrify a Modern Mom appeared first on Budget and the Bees.
