Mum's Controversial Toddler Rules Divide Parents

A mum’s strict rules for her one-year-old, which include no sharing and no sugar, have ignited heated debate between parents.

Mum-of-one, Corrie, detailed the many rules she has for her son in a series of social media posts. Her video outlining the rules that most make people upset has had over one million views.

“My son doesn’t have ‘alone time’ with anyone that doesn’t respect our rules and boundaries, including grandparents,” she explains.

Corrie, 21, also says she considers her son ‘sugar free’. “I give him sugar because I can limit the amount he has, but as a general rule, no one else is allowed to give him sugar.”

Toddler rules

One of the most controversial rules Corrie has shared is the fact that she doesn’t make her son share.

“He never has to share anything. If he’s bringing a toy to dinner at his grandparents’ house, he doesn’t have to share with his cousins. That extends to the playground and other situations.”

The young mum also explains that consent is a ‘big thing’. “It’s not that people can’t hug and kiss my son, but ask him first. He knows the difference between yes and no. More than that, I ask his consent before I do anything, even before I change his bum.”

Her final rule is a limit on screen time. “He’s a year old,” Corrie explains. “He doesn’t need to be watching TV all day.”

Understandably there has been a mixed reaction from those who have watched the video – with both support and concern from other parents.

Diana Dimitrakakis asks, “Why bring a toy, that his cousins cant play with?”

“These type of rules create the worst of the worst,” added another commenter.

While Kim added: “Wait until he is a teenager, see how the rules work. Sounds like the kid is running the house not the parent.”

What do you think of these rules? Let us know in the comments below.

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41 Comments

- - MandaMags said
  - 16 Jul 2023
    12:20 pm
Each to their own, if that’s the way wishes to bring up her child then do it.

- - tessie said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    11:53 am
My only question is if he goes to someone’s house and that child is playing with their toys, does she expect them to share their things? I just hope he doesn’t grow up believing he doesn’t have to share but everyone else does. As for her other rules, I have no problem with them.

- - mom285498 said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    11:39 am
Everymother has a right to bring her child up they way she wants. Who are we to judge her. Maybe not sharing a toy is just being overly hygenic. If the child does not want to hug someone maybe he does not feel comfortable with that person. We all have different ways to bring up our children. Each to his/her own

- - shocolatmoose said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    11:28 am
I have enough issues with restrciting my 15 month old eating things he reacts to, so I kind of get the no sugar thing if thats what you want to do and limiting screen time, but I think no sharing will be tough in the long run.

- - RA1234756 said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    8:25 am
If she has the energy to do this, why not? Though asking consent to change a dirty nappy does seem superfluous. He is not the boss.
He does have a right not to touch relatives. And she doesn’t need to leave him with anyone that dusagrees with her. Her baby, her rules.

- - sars_angelchik said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    7:07 am
There is a lot there that will cause issues- not learning to share? Wait until he has siblings! Asking his permission to do things? That’s just dumb and could become neglectful- what if he decides he doesn’t want his bum changed for an extended period? The only good thing here is the no TV thing. I didn’t allow my kids to watch TV until they were older and even now they’re 7 and 10, screen time is still limited.

- - Gwen2620 said
  - 15 Apr 2023
    7:00 am
It is a parents responsibility to instil correct values. The no sugar thing is fine. Munching on vegies is far better.

- - MummaD said
  - 14 Apr 2023
    11:38 pm
Interesting how her rules will go if she has other children or when her child is older.

- - Zmijka86 said
  - 07 Jun 2022
    1:23 pm
I am just in the middle with that situation

- - mom461384 said
  - 04 Jun 2022
    5:37 pm
Personally… I think some of this is just ridiculous! But each to their own. Good luck!

- - mom101628 said
  - 11 May 2022
    9:02 am
I would be interested to see an hear how the rules played out down the track, say in another 2 years time, especially if he has a sibling in his house. Mum might find her rules were a little ‘over the top’ if another child is born.

- - mom466087 said
  - 10 May 2022
    8:50 pm
Each to their own.. but to be honest not sharing with cousins is quite too much

- - mom462038 said
  - 05 May 2022
    12:06 pm
Consent to change a baby’s nappy has never made sense to me. If they continually say no, they end up with nappy rash. I think it’s fair about not sharing tho. What if it’s a favourite toy and the other kids break it? Limiting sugar in children’s lived is always a good thing in my opinion

- - mom265671 said
  - 04 May 2022
    11:55 pm
I think shes doing what she thinks is best for her child. Everyone is different

- - ~Loui~ said
  - 04 May 2022
    11:22 pm
She is doing the best job as a parent that she can. We all do things differently,