There are as many ways to parent as there are babies. But even with all of the many, many options, certain trends start to emerge as being more popular than others.

What to Expect, with its Community of more than 5 million moms, is uniquely positioned to identify these trends. That's because moms post something new once every three seconds on our Community — 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. They offer insight into what parents are talking about and doing at any given moment.

From how parents-to-be are announcing their pregnancies (or not) to how moms are choosing to unwind after a busy day, these are the biggest pregnancy and parenting trends you can expect to see in 2024. 

1. Parents are setting strict baby boundaries

In a survey for What to Expect, a whopping 91% of pregnant women said they plan to set rules for people visiting their newborn. This is up from the 72% of women who have a child 0 to 5 years old and say they did the same when their babies were born.

The trend is especially strong among Gen Z moms. Of those who have a child 0 to 5 years old, 81% say they've set baby boundaries, compared to 70% of Millennial parents with children in the same age range.

Of those who set rules for visiting their newborn, some of the most popular guidelines include:

Anecdotally, many moms in the Community also say they write down these rules and share them in advance, either via email or on a printed sign that they post in their hospital rooms. As you might imagine, not every extended family member is thrilled by the boundaries. 

"My mom was very offended," says one WTE Community member. "My brother has even said he won't meet my son." 

At the end of the day, new parents need to do what they feel is best for their baby, and communication is key. 

"It doesn't matter who you offend when placing and upholding boundaries related to your child," writes one WTE Community member. "You owe nobody an explanation for the rules you put in place."

2. Nesting parties are poised to upend baby showers

If you haven't heard of nesting parties yet, you will soon. They're an alternative to baby showers where close family and friends help expectant parents prepare for baby's arrival. Think sterilizing bottles, building baby furniture, organizing the changing table, preparing freezer meals and deep cleaning the kitchen. The mom-to-be may come up with a list of assignments for the attendees, or a veteran mom-friend might assign the jobs. 

@nialui21 Replying to @Haley Sheppard Every pregnant mom needs a nesting party. If you’re pregnant and don’t want a baby shower, do this. If you have a pregnant friend, do this for them! #nestingparty #nestingmom #nestingmode #pregnantmom #pregnancy #babyshower #nestingmama #thirdtrimester #ittakesavillage #myvillage @Bri Welcker ? original sound - Nia Lui

While the nesting parties trend is still in its early stages (49% of moms we surveyed haven't yet heard of the phenomenon), Gen Z moms are significantly more likely to have had or plan to have one during their pregnancy (23% of Gen Z compared to 11% of Millennials). 

Some members of the What to Expect Community share how valuable this type of party can be, especially when they were seeking support rather than gifts. "I have a lot of baby stuff already, so [for my second pregnancy] my friend is throwing a nesting party for me where people come and bring a premade meal for the freezer (or a food gift card if they don't have time to prepare something), do some cleaning/setup, and create busy activities for my toddler for the newborn stage," one WTE mom shared in the Community. "Really just an intimate celebration for the new baby that helps prepare for what is to come." 

If you choose to host a nesting party, keep the guestlist small and make your expectations clear on the invitation. One WTE Community member suggests writing “Instead of a traditional shower, we humbly ask and hope for this get-together to help the parents-to-be prepare for their little one. Lunch will be provided, please come ready to put together the crib, organize clothes and enjoy each other's company.’"

3. Parents are revolting against the once-popular gentle parenting style 

Influencers who promote gentle parenting techniques saw a meteoric rise in popularity in 2020. Gentle parenting encourages parents to acknowledge the complexity of their children's feelings and respond in an emotionally intelligent way. But now more parents are saying that the approach disregards parents' own emotions.

Today, social media is flooded with caregivers who are calling out gentle parenting for being unrealistic — or worse.

@ourbeautifulsurprise I cannot be the only one who struggles with gentle parenting ?? #gentleparentingishard #momsoftiktok #strugglingmomsoftiktok #momof3boys #lonelymotherhood #mommaof3 ? Look At Her Now - Selena Gomez

Within the WTE Community, parents are getting real about how difficult this parenting style can be. "I like that gentle parenting focuses on teaching rather than punishing; however it does bring undue pressure on parents to get it right every time and that's just not feasible," writes one WTE Community member. "I do try to explain what I'm asking [my kids] to do clearly before I go to consequences, but sometimes it's going to be 'because I said so!'"

In the coming months, we expect to see even more parents taking an approach to parenting that mixes support and discipline and leads with trusting their gut: "My goal is to be gentle, but firm," a WTE Community member shares. "Not giving in to tantrums, no means no. Raise them to be good humans who are kind to others, but also respecting my child and their feelings." 

4. Weed is a popular way for moms to unwind

It is basically a given that being a mom can be stressful — but what might surprise you is how many moms are choosing to take the edge off. In a recent survey, 31% of moms who are not pregnant say they've used weed to unwind in the past six months. 

"I smoke during naps and after bedtime," shares one WTE Community member. "I'm a stay-at-home-mom, and it is a much-needed break for me and my one true way to relax. [It] definitely helps me get through the day and even helps my productivity around the house." 

This recreational marijuana use is typically happening when parents are off duty, with 17% of moms who use weed to unwind saying they only do so when they are not responsible for caring for their children and 14% saying they use weed to unwind after their children go to sleep.

By the end of 2023, 24 states and the District of Columbia had plans to legalize recreational marijuana use. Smoke shops are popping up in major cities and small towns alike, making vape pens, edibles and other forms of weed more accessible than ever. As the stigma continues to blow over, we expect this trend will continue to rise, maybe even overtaking the "wine mom" stereotype. 

5. Grandparents are celebrating their new roles with custom names

Gone are the days when it was a given that children would call their parents' parents "grandma" and "grandpa." Older generations are increasingly choosing their own grandparent nicknames. In a recent survey, 71% of moms with a 0- to 6-month-old say that a grandparent figure in their child's life picked a nickname for their grandchild to use.

@becoming.mama.vic Grandparent name variations are so cute, what do your kids call their grandparents? #grandparents #grandparentnames #grandchildrenarethebest #firsttimemom ? original sound - Mama Vic | Tired Toddler Mom

Sometimes these names are rooted in culture: Filipino grandparents going by "lola" and "lolo" or Polish grandparents using "babcia" or "babci," for example. But often, this comes back to a larger trend of grandparents looking for ways to embrace and celebrate this new phase in their lives (see: grandma showers). While some parents are all for it, others think it's a bit over the top, especially when the chosen name sounds similar to "mommy." 

"My mom wants to be mimi and I hate it so much," one WTE Community member shares. "It's too close to mommy, in my opinion. And what's wrong with grandma?" 

The positive thing to keep in mind about these self-selected grandparent nicknames: It makes it easier when there's more than one grandma (or step-grandma) in the room. 

"My mom is grams and my dad is gramps, and we have a memere and nana and a baba and grandpa," shares a WTE Community mom. "No grandmas — my mom says it sounds old. I'm like 'Mom, you're in your 60s. Who cares.'" 

6. Opting out of pregnancy announcements, parents are "hard launching" their babies

We've seen this with celebrities — including Paris Hilton, who appeared to announce to her family that she was expecting a daughter after the baby was already born. But this trend of not sharing pregnancy news until there's a baby to introduce is also increasingly popular among non-celeb moms.

After years of expectant moms sharing perfectly curated Instagram pregnancy announcements, moms-to-be are now moving in the direction of not sharing at all or at least keeping their news off of social media.

"No [pregnancy] announcement and I am debating on whether to announce after she is born," shares one WTE Community mom. "I have loved the privacy I've had of only those closest to me knowing. If you don't know by now, we must not be close friends." 

Still, others are going as far as not telling anyone who doesn't accidentally spot a growing belly. Then family and friends are surprised with a picture or FaceTime call from the hospital or a home visit where a newborn happens to be waiting to meet them. 

This decision sometimes stems from experience with infertility and sensitivity toward others going through similar struggles or loss. "I previously had a miscarriage and seeing pregnancy announcements was very difficult for me, so I consciously chose not to add to that for anyone else," explains one WTE Community member. 

For others, it's just exhilarating to keep a secret this big to yourself and experience the excitement of a grand reveal. "I just want to show up pregnant and surprise people or just show up with a baby and make people wonder whose kid is that," shares one mom in the WTE Community.

However you decide to announce your baby, you'll have your share of parenting trends to try out this year as you begin this exciting adventure with your little one. 

Methodology

The Everyday Health Group Pregnancy & Parenting Talk to Moms Monthly Poll was conducted by Everyday Health Group – Pregnancy and Parenting between December 11 and 14, 2023. We surveyed 400 women 18-44 who are currently pregnant or have at least one child up to 5 years old.