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These 16 parenting trends might take off in 2016
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There's no shortage of speculation about trends parents might embrace in the new year, so here are a few of them. - photo by Payton Davis
Among 2015's parenting trends was moms and dads taking inspiration from Instagram filters when naming newborns.

And speculation with regards to trends parents will embrace in the new year details everything from technology's constant grip on culture to new moms doing things a bit differently.

"We are beginning to see parents especially millennial parents make fundamental shifts in their approach to raising children," Parents magazine quoted Katie Bugbee of Care.com as saying. "With more dual-income households, greater access to technology, and shifts in parental roles, family dynamics are changing and giving rise to some exciting and positive parenting trends."

These are 16 trends parents might embrace in 2016.

Classic board games

Mike Spohr wrote for BuzzFeed that parents will make limiting screen time a priority in the new year, and encouraging kids to enjoy "throwback" games is one way they'll accomplish that. Checkers, anyone?

Hybrid names

Parents unable to decide between two names for their newborn might just mix them in 2016, according to Reuters. If deciding between the names Eileen and Lynn, parents could opt for Eilynn.

Daughters carrying on family name

Bugbee wrote for care.com that moms and dads no longer just have first sons continue the family name; it's a trend extended to daughters now with many named after their mothers.

Abandoning helicopter parenting

A notable 2016 trend is parents letting kids "have a little space to breathe," according to Parents magazine. Giving kids a bit more freedom to manage their lives and schedules will make for more independent kids, according to the piece.

Inspiration from Elsa

Marianne Litman wrote for babypost.com whose parenting style in particular moms and dads might draw inspiration from to instill that independence in their kids: Millennial parents will evoke an Elsa-like let it go approach (to raising their kids).

Talk about emotions

Parents might utilize films like 2015's "Inside Out" to "get kids to understand and discuss their emotions," according to BuzzFeed.

Share of duties

Care.com indicated parents might minimize their efforts to do it all in order to become "present and available" to their kids. Moms and dads are realizing "a less can be more approach" works with holidays, after-school activities and birthday parties.

Sensory play

BuzzFeed's piece indicated that activities to engage kids' senses touch, smell, taste, sight and hearing help in early childhood development. Games that emphasize these qualities will prove popular in 2016.

More moms-to-be having midwives

Midwives attended 6 percent more hospital births in 2012 than 2005, Hallie Levine wrote for Parents magazine. More moms preferring midwives might be because "they provide personal care with minimal intervention," the report continued.

Showing over telling

According to care.com, enlightened parents plan to show their children through actions in 2016 how to be compassionate toward peers with differences such as disabilities. That provides a "stronger, more modern" message, care.com reported.

Increase in professional nannies

Reuters reported that in 2015, "Care.com saw year-over-year increases in job posts for nannies and caregivers with special pedigree, including college degrees (+25 percent) and CPR/First Aid (+55 percent)." Parents will seek caregivers with master's degrees and child psychology backgrounds in 2016.

Full-fledged care teams

In 2016, the "rich and famous" won't be the only ones organizing a "care team" to watch over kids during the work week, according to Washington Family. Families might have two nannies, leading to more flexibility and variety for kids.

Instilling skills like coding

Games and apps geared toward teaching children how to code are plentiful, so parents will teach their kids this still, BuzzFeed reported. Among its benefits in the tech-driven world, coding develops kids' ability to use logic.

Early baby delivery less likely

Parents magazine reported premature births are down for the sixth straight year and at a 15-year low of 11.5 percent.

Old-man names for boys

Isabelle Khoo wrote for The Huffington Post why you shouldn't be surprised to meet newborns named Clyde, Alfred and Otto in 2016: Old-man names are now "hip" for parents of newborns. Other examples include Harold and Warren.

And vintage names for girls

What do Marigold, Primrose and Bluebell have in common? They're names of flowers but also girls' names surging in popularity in 2015, according to the Post. Although options such as Lily and Daisy are "overused," parents find these quirky options appealing.
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