Should We All Join the Crunchy Mom Movement?

The crunchy mom movement is quickly becoming mainstream way of raising your children. Crunchy moms live a natural and healthy way of life. They prefer natural remedies, as opposed to medicinal ones and opt for fresh air instead of AC. Crunchy moms feed their families all organic food and don’t use disposable diapers because they’re bad for the environment.

With so many celebrity crunchy moms out there, such as Jessica Alba, Kristen Bell and Natalie Portman, the crunchy mom movement has become even more mainstream and a topic of great discussion. The stigma that surrounds crunchy moms very much exists — other moms feel crunchy moms think they are better mothers.

These other moms are referred to as smooth or silky moms — moms who are more likely only to use disposable diapers, bottle feed earlier in life or entirely and prefer going to a doctor than trying a natural remedy. They’re the opposite of crunchy moms. You will also hear the term scrunchy mom, which is a combination of the two — also a way of life everyone can follow comfortably

. Regardless of what society labels you, motherhood is a unique journey, and each mother is on their own journey to care for their children and their family the way they feel works best. Being a crunchy mom may seem like the best choice, especially since Hollywood glamorizes it, but it’s not necessarily a sustainable way of life for everyone. Read on to understand why.

Food vs. Organic Food

The crunchy mom movement is very health conscious and even likes to make their baby food. This can not only be time-consuming, but it can cost more money to use all organic ingredients. On the other hand, silky moms can be seen in the McDonald’s drive-thru line buying their child a Happy Meal because they simply don’t have enough time to cook dinner or their child wants a Happy Meal.

The happy middle here is the scrunchy mom, who will likely purchase organic ingredients if they’re on sale and when there’s room in the budget, but they won’t kick themselves if they feed their families Chick-Fil-A every now and then or lasagna that isn’t made with organic grass fed beef.

Children will be children, and sometimes they deserve a cheeseburger or a hot dog because that’s what children do. They eat cheerios and stick them on their fingers, and they get chocolate milk all over their faces. They love Kraft Mac & Cheese. Don’t keep them from enjoying their childhood by only feeding them raw carrots and steamed haricot verts.

Co-Sleeping vs Crib Sleeping

Crunchy moms prefer co-sleeping. Silky moms prefer crib sleeping. Both work, depending on your situation. That’s why scrunchy moms have this figured out. Analyze your sleep situation to determine your best choice based on safety, comfort and preference. Will you be able to break the co-sleeping cycle when that time comes? Don’t force your baby to do one thing or the other based on what society tells you is best, but know that each choice will come with its own set of consequences.

Natural Birth vs Epidural

Your birth experience is just that — your birth experience, and whether or not you choose the natural route or an epidural is your decision. Determine what’s best after you consider all of your birth options. Can you handle the pain that comes with natural birth? If your doctor recommends a C-section to ensure the safe delivery of your baby, you’ll likely need an epidural whether you want one or not.

An epidural does not make you a bad mother. You’re human, and not everyone has a high tolerance for pain. Of course both epidurals and natural birth pose risks. What it all boils down to is the birth experience you want to have, and in some cases, you may not even have a say.

Breastfeeding vs Bottle Feeding  

Breastfeeding doesn’t work for all moms, especially moms who have to work and cannot be on a schedule. While breastfeeding is the natural way to feed your baby, it’s not the most convenient or sustainable. Bottle feeding is a proven alternative that can provide all of the same nutrients your baby needs to grow. Even if you decide to breastfeed when you’re home and bottle feed when you’re not, it’s a mixed option that works for your lifestyle.

Many crunchy moms believe you can only create a strong bond with your child through breastfeeding, not bottle feeding. However, it’s not so much the act of breastfeeding that creates the bond, but it’s the act of feeding. How you decide to feed your baby is a personal decision, so weigh the pros and cons, then determine what works best for you and your baby.

Disposable Diapers vs Cloth Diapers

Crunchy moms refuse to use disposable diapers because they feel they’re bad for the environment. It’s true they use resources like plastic and trees when they’re manufactured and collect in landfills when they are disposed of, but boycotting them is not necessarily a sustainable way of life for every mom. Help the environment in other ways, like if you recycle, conserve water and energy, or use reusable bags — these efforts may seem small to you, but you’ll make an impact on the world in a positive way by doing these things.

The only other major differences between disposable and cloth diapers are price and convenience. Disposable diapers are convenient because they can be thrown away, but dirty cloth diapers will collect in the laundry room until you clean them. Yes, disposable diapers cost more than cloth diapers, but maybe it’s worth saving you the time it would take to clean dozens of dirty cloth diapers. Only you can decide. Whether you’re a crunchy, silky or scrunchy mom, at the end of the day, moms are moms, and they’re all on the same mission. After all, these labeled moms have more in common than they think — the welfare of their children.

The Crunchy Mom Movement

However, if you’re less harsh on yourself and other moms and focus more on being a scrunchy mom, rather than a hardcore crunchy or silky mom, you will find that you, your children and your family live a better life by doing so.