Parenting rarely feels smooth sailing because it often involves navigating complex challenges. They may extend from the child’s developmental stages to individual parenting styles and societal pressures.
Burnout among parents is more common than you may think. In some surveys, as many as 60% of parents have reported experiencing its symptoms. Amid the loud noises, a gentler voice within always wants to guide parental decisions.
Yes, parental intuition can be a life-saving difference when honed by love and observation. Are you aware of its quiet power? This article will explore how a parent’s intuition plays a role in caring deeply for their child.
What is Parental Intuition?
In general, intuition is a type of knowledge that requires no conscious effort. In other words, one can sense something to be right or wrong immediately without needing any conscious reasoning.
It is often referred to as ‘gut feeling.’ Psychologists believe that intuition relies on pattern-matching. That’s when the mind combines experiences stored in long-term memory and applies the judgments to present situations.
Based on that, parental intuition is the deep sense of knowing whether something is right or wrong for your child. Shimi Kang, a psychiatrist and author of the book The Dolphin Parent, states that intuition is a gift of nature. It can only be accessed through calm awareness. She believes that instincts may be wrong at times, but intuition seldom is.
Unlike scientific advice, intuition is often personal and immediate. This means it is something grounded in a parent’s unique relationship with their child. Parental intuition helps parents to:
- Detect subtle changes in their child’s behavior, mood, or health
- Advocate confidently for their child’s needs
- Make timely decisions in urgent situations
- Choose care options that align with their child’s responses and sensitivities
Practical Examples of Intuition in Action
While there may be no metric to measure intuition, it’s still possible to understand its importance. A 2025 report found that 92% of parents were concerned about their children’s emotional well-being. Additionally, 68% stated that they focused on their child’s mental health from an early age.
This gives a glimpse into the importance parents place on understanding and responding to their child’s emotional needs, often guided by intuition. Let’s see a few examples that illustrate the power of parental intuition.
Reconsidering Common Feeding Recommendations
Feeding a child, especially when they’re an infant, is a crucial decision since it directly impacts development, immunity, and long-term health. The truth is that feeding choices are not always straightforward, particularly for mothers with breastfeeding issues or those whose babies are born prematurely.
When her premature baby was admitted to the NICU, Sarah was advised to supplement with a popular bovine-based formula. She couldn’t shake the uneasiness regarding this choice and decided to look for other alternatives.
In the process, she discovered the NEC lawsuit filed against baby formula manufacturers. According to TorHoerman Law, this Federal lawsuit alleges that (premature) babies fed with milk formulas like Similac and Enfamil developed Necrotizing Enterocolitis (NEC).
On further research, Sarah found that the gastrointestinal condition, especially among premature infants, has a mortality rate of 10% to 50%. What validated her intuition was the recent NEC lawsuit payout verdict of $495 million against one of the defendants, Abbott Laboratories.
This made the young mother distrust other formula brands available across the UK. She ultimately decided to opt for donor milk from a reliable milk bank. It was parental intuition that pushed Sarah to go for a second opinion for their child’s sake.
Questioning School Safety Protocols
Parents expect schools to be a safe place, but the safety protocols of these institutions are under intense scrutiny. For instance, a survey conducted in 2023-2024 found that almost 99% of staff alerts are triggered by everyday emergencies.
These include health issues and behavioral crisis. So, when Emma’s seven-year-old daughter (with mild asthma) returned home coughing repeatedly, she knew something was off. On paper, Katie’s school had safety protocols in place for basic first aid and even an asthma action plan.
However, Emma’s intuition guided her to make inquiries about the school environment. She later discovered that the ventilation systems in the gym and playrooms were poor, facilitating the circulation of dust and pollen. Despite the protocols, maintenance had been delayed for months.
Trusting her intuition, Emma pressed for immediate improvements. She also sought a formal review of the school’s air quality. Thanks to her advocacy, the ventilation systems were replaced, thereby reducing asthma flare-ups, not only in Katie but also in other sensitive children.
Limiting Screen Time Amid Societal Pressures
Considering the digital age we live in, parents face mounting challenges in managing their children’s screen time. A recent UK-based study found that an average child is spending a whopping 45 hours each week indoors.
Smartphones and other tech devices are to blame, as kids are stuck to their screens for more than a third of their time. Limiting a child’s screen time can indeed be challenging amid societal pressures and tech integration.
However, Sophie, the mother of a 12-year-old, Noah, took no chances when her son displayed irritability and poor sleep patterns. On paper, Noah’s screen time seemed normal: tablet for schoolwork, video games with friends in the evenings, and funny videos before bed.
Other parents reassured Sophie that ‘all kids are doing the same, there’s nothing to worry about.’ Sophie’s intuition told her otherwise, and she took some strict measures. Noah’s screen time was restricted, and he enjoyed more offline activities like family walks and board games. Even his bedtime videos were replaced with book-reading sessions.
Later, Sophie came across studies that linked excessive screen time with poor sleep and mood issues in children. They validated her intuition, which helped her do what’s best for her child in the first place.
Tips to Use Your Parental Intuition in Your Favor
Since parental intuition holds a quiet power, it’s important to harness it effectively. Here are tips to use it to your advantage:
- Always slow down and observe your child. In those quiet moments, notice patterns in their feeding, sleeping, and behavior. Intuition tends to speak through small, consistent details.
- Maintain a journal where you note down what you observe and how you feel about certain decisions. Over time, this will help you gain clarity so you can discuss concerns with healthcare providers.
- Try to balance out your intuition with expert advice. This will ensure that you’re not operating from a place of misinformation or personal bias. As a result, you will be able to make more proactive, grounded decisions.
- Finally, it’s important to advocate for your child. If you cannot shake the uneasiness regarding something or someone, be persistent in seeking options that feel right for your baby. As we saw in the examples, trusting parental intuition can make a real difference in your child’s comfort and health.
In a nutshell, parental intuition is real and it is powerful. However, its quiet power boils down to trust. You must trust that inner guide to help you know your child and advocate for what’s best for them.
No parent indeed has all the perfect answers. You may also face moments of doubt and confusion. When you honor practical advice and parental intuition, your baby gets their best chance at health and happiness.
