There’s no manual for parenting — something you probably realized when you brought your little one home. There’s no single “right” way to parent. How you parent will depend on how you were raised, how you see others parenting, and even, to some extent, your cultural background.

Some of the more widely recognized parenting styles are:

• authoritative
• authoritarian
• attachment
• permissive
• free range
• helicopter
• uninvolved/neglectful

If you have a newborn at home (or one on the way!) and want to learn about which parenting style might be right for you — or if you have an older child and wonder if your current methods might be worth rethinking — read on to learn more about the different types of parenting.

Remember:

There’s no “right” or “wrong” way to parent, and your style will likely draw from several different types. On those tough days when you’re questioning everything, remind yourself that this parenting thing is hard, perfect kids don’t exist, and you’re doing an amazing job at raising your little human.

Authoritative parenting

Many child development specialists consider this the most reasonable and effective form of parenting. Consider yourself an authoritative parent if you:

• set clear and consistent rules and boundaries
• have reasonable expectations for your children
• listen to input from your child/children
• are generous with positive feedback

Pros and cons of authoritative parenting

Pros

As an authoritative parent, you create a loving and supportive environment for your children. As a result, your children:

• Rate higher on mental health scores.

  • According to research published in 2012, children raised by authoritative parents have higher levels of self-esteem and quality of life than those raised by authoritarian or permissive parents.

• Are healthier. The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) notes that adolescents with authoritative parents (versus those who use the other parenting forms) are less likely to:

  • have problems with substance abuse
  • engage in unhealthy sexual behaviors
  • be violent

Cons

While most experts agree that authoritative parenting produces the healthiest outcomes for kids, it requires a lot of patience and effort to make sure everyone is being heard.

In addition, rules sometimes have to be adjusted, and that can be hard for kids — and parents!