How to discipline the children causes the biggest rows between couples, a study has revealed.
Researchers found the average parent will argue with their other half eight times a month about how they should be bringing up their children.
And more than three quarters of parents admit to constantly disagreeing with each other over how to deal with discipline.
But the poll of 2,000 parents found 38 per cent of respondents said that Mum was most likely to have the last word when it came down to it.
Liz Fraser, modern family expert for Care.com which commissioned the research, said: “It’s perhaps not surprising that at the top of the list on what parents disagree on most was how to discipline a child.
“Everyone will have their own thoughts on what is the right or wrong way to bring up their children. Nobody said parenting was easy.
“But certainly, talking about the things you disagree on, and trying to reach some kind of workable, peace-keeping compromise, will really make things a lot easier
“Don’t sweat every battle. Let some stuff go. But stick to the things you really believe in, and try to find a way to work together on them, not apart.”
The study found other disagreements between mums and dads occurred when one didn’t follow through on a threat of punishment and one parent being too strict or shouting.
How much to spend on kids for birthdays or Christmas and how to reward children for good behavior or work will also cause parents to fall out.
Other little arguments that can crop up between mom and dad were said to be caused by how much TV and films they should watch as well as how much food they should eat at mealtimes.
More than half of parents believe the reasons behind their disagreements were because they were brought up differently themselves.
While four in ten said it was possibly because they find different things more important than others.
Despite nine in ten parents trying to put on a united front in front of their children when they’re having a disagreement two thirds believe their children pick up on the fact they’ve had a difference of opinion on something.
Liz Fraser from Care.com added: “It’s good to see that a lot of mums and dads have support from grandparents every once in a while, but of course not everyone has this luxury.
“Services like Care.com that provide a non-judgmental and supportive care solution aim to help families not only find different options for carers in the local area but can also allow families to make safer, more informed hiring decisions when it comes to childcare.
“This means one less important thing for parents to disagree on and argue over.”
BIGGEST DISAGREEMENTS BETWEEN PARENTS
1. How to discipline their child
2. Giving in to tantrums
3. One parent saying yes to a child when the other had just said no
4. One not following through on a threat of punishment
5. One parent shouting or being too strict
6. Whether to let a baby cry or self-settle
7. How much to spend on them at birthdays and Christmas
8. Immediately seeing to a crying baby
9. Letting child sleep in parents’ bed
10. How to reward children
ENDS
To visit Care.com, follow this link: https://uk.care.com/
