This is actually scary.

I think we can all agree that parenting groups are a little out of control these days.

They are filled with oversharing, questionable requests, and unqualified advice.

A woman leans over a laptop with her face almost touching the screen. A potted plant, cactus, and notebooks are on the wooden table next to her

Some parents even use these groups instead of visiting a doctor (including during emergencies).

It’s genuinely troubling.

A Facebook post from a pregnant woman mentions she has Cryptosporidium from a goat, extreme cramps for 5 days, and asks for prayers. A comment suggests colloidal silver

post asking how to stop contractions because they have a stomach bug

A person in an online group for expecting parents expresses concern about getting a Tdap shot due to mixed information and seeks advice, particularly about toxic ingredients

Facebook post by an anonymous user asking how long to "pump and dump" after drinking and using drugs while breastfeeding

post where someone wonders if their rhinoplasty impacted their baby's nose

Text in image: Parent describes their 8-year-old daughter kicking their 6-year-old son in the groin. Son later experiences pain and blood in urine. Parent seeks advice on whether to visit the emergency room

Facebook post asking for advice on a leg injury from a drill. Various comments offer remedies like avoiding a tetanus jab, using homeopathic remedies, and onion wraps

A concerned parent posts about their 5-month-old baby weighing 8.9 lbs, up from 7.2 lbs at birth, and wonders if this weight is normal. 82 comments

Facebook post by a top contributor seeking recommendations for a pediatrician to remove an appendix in a newborn within a 30-minute drive of Plymouth-Kingston

Social media post by an anonymous member asking if anyone has smoked cigarettes throughout their entire pregnancy and if everything was okay, with 42 answers and 34 reactions

Facebook post by an anonymous member asking if smoking makes their poop green. Commenter suggests diet is the cause. Another user expresses surprise at responses

post of person searching for a doctor who doesn't force vaccines

A person's Facebook post about their son stepping on a rusty nail in a chicken coop and concerns about tetanus, with comments discussing the situation

A social media post discussing pregnancy at 35 weeks, loss of mucus plug, initiating labor, and reactions to bouncing on a ball to speed up labor

Text from a social media post about a woman asking for advice after her water ruptured at 29 weeks. She shares medical complications and concerns about induction

Facebook comment thread discussing hanging eggs during teething to alleviate baby discomfort

Anonymous member's post seeking advice on whether to refuse a c-section due to husband's unwillingness to sign liability waiver, concerns about the outcome shared

A social media post asks for natural remedies to avoid a root canal. The user mentions trying oregano oil for tooth pain. The post has 1 like and 25 comments

Screenshot of a Facebook post questioning if giving water to 4-week-old infants prevents weight gain. Comments warn against it, mentioning risks like water intoxication

A social media post seeking advice for a 7-year-old with a swollen testicle and mentioning a history of a few days with the issue. A commenter suggests testicular torsion

A social media post reads: "Has anyone been shocked by an electric fence while pregnant. I am 24 weeks and jsut a little worried."

Facebook post asking for advice about a child experiencing fussiness and fever after using black drawing salve on swollen bites. Concerns raised about allergic reaction or illness

Comments debate homebirth safety, with users expressing differing opinions on midwife care versus hospital births