Top Parenting Influencers Who Will Really Make You Feel Like a Good Parent
When I became a parent, I didn’t want to get parenting advice from social media. Then the pandemic happened, and not only did I get tips and tricks from my Instagram feed, but I also started writing articles about how to be a better dad, which became one of the most fun and rewarding aspects of my career.
I still view many influencers with a healthy dose of skepticism, just like anyone else, since they are often willing to sell you something. But I have discovered that there are many parents, doctors, writers and other people who are trying to bring goodness into the world. Here are 10 that will make me smile or brighten my day, and I hope they do the same for you.
Virginia Soul-Smith
While other parenting podcasters discuss topics like optimizing your morning routine or meltdowns (critical issues, by the way), journalist Virginia Soule-Smith uses her newsletter andpodcast Burnt Toast to break down food culture and its impact on kids. She told NPR that by the time they enter high school, more than a quarter of children in the United States will be on a diet, a staggering statistic. Her anti-bias idea is for parents to explain that we are all different shapes and sizes, and we all need to hear that to begin to accept ourselves for who we are.
Dr. Becky Kennedy
There was some fuss about Kennedy’s philosophy that parents should raise their children with kindness rather than fear. But judging by the popularity of her podcasts, books and social media pages, Dr. Good Inside resonates strongly with stressed-out parents who want release from what they experienced as children. Her advice reassures the listener that they are doing their best, which is something everyone needs to hear from time to time.
Brown Dad Bag
Some parents leave a note in their child’s lunch. Lynell Jinks spends hours illustrating photos on her kids’ lunch bags—from characters from the holiday classic Home Alone to recreations of Smithsonian portraits of President Barack Obama or photos of coach Deion Sanders—and posting them on her social media. This account is a fun reminder that we can bring fun and creativity into even the most mundane aspects of our child’s day.
Cup of Joe
Joanna Goddard’s blog has grown exponentially since its inception in 2007, with a team of writers and editors covering motherhood, relationships, travel, and recipes (which I’ve often used to successfully feed my picky sons). Although the site has undergone changes, the content still feels raw and honest, even as the founder is dealing with a recent separation from her husband. Plus, the comments never disappoint.
Dad Father
Aaron Thygesen has cracked the code of creating fun parenting content without sounding like a smug dad. And let’s face it: when someone’s sponsored content makes you laugh until you cry—which happened to me when I saw one of his videos for Dave’s Killer Bread—you know he’s onto something.
Feeding babies
My wife has been following Megan McNamee, a registered dietitian and occupational therapist and nutritionist for Judy Delaware, since we introduced our oldest son to solid foods. At first I was skeptical about their methods of weaning and promoting intuitive eating. Over the years, I’ve seen my boys go from being very picky to being a bit adventurous with food (the gap is wider than you think). They also have a great relationship with food, so the stress of eating over the years is worth it. Their social networks are shame-free zones where the core message is always, “Do what works for you.”
mom swears
Gwenna Leitland is my type of parent: she tells dad jokes to the annoyance of her kids, she has no filters (hence her nickname), and she knows that the best expert to help you parent is yourself. Other influencers may struggle to be relatable, but Laitland succeeds at it by bringing authenticity to the one place on the internet that isn’t known for it: social media.
Mom psychologist
When my boys were going through their terrible D’s (and C’s and B’s), it seemed like every day there was another piece of helpful advice popping up on my feed from Dr. Jazmine McCoy’s Instagram account ( @themompsychologies ) offering simple and valuable advice just like I went through another crisis. McCoy doesn’t blame or shame, but simply offers simple ways to help you connect with your little man even when he’s throwing a fit.
Dad’s Gang
Dad Gang came together in 2016 to “challenge stereotypes, bust myths, and celebrate black fatherhood every day. This is a place where we encourage, teach, support and share tips that can help all fathers become better fathers.” If you spend one minute on their social media, you will find nothing but positive and inspiring content and a strong community of fathers caring for their children.
O. Henrys
At first glance, nothing distinguishes the Henry family from other influential families. But look closely and you’ll see that they have some great tricks, like assigning one of the four kids a day of the week that they’ll be responsible for all the housework, but that kid can also choose where to sit in the car, which for what to do. dinner, choice of show, etc. for that day. They’re also not shy about how difficult a marriage can be while raising four kids, which is why they introduced The Marriage Comeback podcast this year.
They are a good reminder that social media is often just an infomercial. We all face our own challenges, and a little grace and understanding can make all the difference as we work to become more involved and supportive partners and parents.