Parenting today feels like navigating endless advice while quietly wondering if you’re doing any of it right.

Jay sits down with bestselling author and economist Emily Oster to unpack one of the most overwhelming journeys many people will ever face: becoming a parent. In a world filled with endless advice, social media pressure, and conflicting research, parenting can start to feel like a test you’re constantly failing. Emily offers a refreshing, data-driven perspective that helps parents cut through the noise, separating real evidence from the myths that fuel unnecessary anxiety. From pregnancy and fertility to sleep training and screen time, this conversation reveals what truly matters and what parents can finally let go of.

Together, Jay and Emily challenge many of the parenting beliefs we’ve accepted without question. They explore why modern parents feel so overwhelmed by information and expectations, when the data actually shows there are many “right” ways to raise a child. Emily breaks down how correlation is often mistaken for causation in parenting advice and how that misunderstanding quietly drives guilt, fear, and comparison. Whether it’s breastfeeding versus formula, screen time, sleep training, or developmental milestones, Emily encourages parents to move away from perfection and toward confident, thoughtful decision-making.

In this episode you'll learn:

How to Stop Overthinking Parenting Decisions

How to Decide What Parenting Advice to Ignore

How to Choose the Sleep Strategy That Works for Your Family

How to Raise Kids with a Growth Mindset

How to Plan Parenting Decisions Before Problems Arise

How to Let Go of the Pressure to Parent Perfectly

Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially in a world filled with endless advice, opinions, and expectations. The truth is, raising a child isn’t about getting every small decision perfectly right, it’s about showing up with love, care, and intention, day after day.

Emily’s book, Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know, offers guidance through pregnancy and motherhood. Grab a copy now.

With Love and Gratitude,

Jay Shetty

JAY’S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX

Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe here. 

Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast 

What We Discuss:

00:00 Intro

01:39 Why Does Parenting Feel Harder Today?

04:06 What the Data Really Says About Parenting

05:24 Don’t Trust This Fertility Advice!

07:56 What Affects Sperm Health

09:51 Lifestyle Habits That Affect Fertility

12:26 Are Antidepressants Safe During Pregnancy?

15:02 Which Pregnancy Rules Actually Matter (And Which Don’t)

18:25 When Is the Best Age to Have Kids?

21:56 Common Pregnancy Myths Debunked

31:19 How Dads Can Support After Birth

34:09 What’s Actually Best for the Baby?

36:51 More Parenting and Pregnancy Myths

44:20 How to Deal With Mom Guilt

47:55 How to Raise Confident Kids

54:28 Parenting Decisions That Cause Stress

56:27 The Truth About Sleep Training

01:02:03 Does Crying It Out Harm Attachment?

01:04:12 How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?

01:09:40 The Truth About Childhood Vaccines

01:12:02 Are Kids Being Overmedicated?

01:14:35 The Many Paths to Parenthood

01:16:49 This or That: Parenting Edition

01:24:31 Emily on Final Five

Episode Resources:

Website | https://parentdata.org/ 

Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/emily.oster.509/ 

Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster 

LinkedIn | https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentdata 

TikTok | https://www.tiktok.com/@profemilyoster 

X | https://x.com/ProfEmilyOster 

Parenting today feels like navigating endless advice while quietly wondering if you&rsquo;re doing any of it right.
Jay sits down with bestselling author and economist Emily Oster to unpack one of the most overwhelming journeys many people will ever face: becoming a parent. In a world filled with endless advice, social media pressure, and conflicting research, parenting can start to feel like a test you&rsquo;re constantly failing. Emily offers a refreshing, data-driven perspective that helps parents cut through the noise, separating real evidence from the myths that fuel unnecessary anxiety. From pregnancy and fertility to sleep training and screen time, this conversation reveals what truly matters and what parents can finally let go of.
Together, Jay and Emily challenge many of the parenting beliefs we&rsquo;ve accepted without question. They explore why modern parents feel so overwhelmed by information and expectations, when the data actually shows there are many &ldquo;right&rdquo; ways to raise a child. Emily breaks down how correlation is often mistaken for causation in parenting advice and how that misunderstanding quietly drives guilt, fear, and comparison. Whether it&rsquo;s breastfeeding versus formula, screen time, sleep training, or developmental milestones, Emily encourages parents to move away from perfection and toward confident, thoughtful decision-making.
In this episode you'll learn:
How to Stop Overthinking Parenting Decisions
How to Decide What Parenting Advice to Ignore
How to Choose the Sleep Strategy That Works for Your Family
How to Raise Kids with a Growth Mindset
How to Plan Parenting Decisions Before Problems Arise
How to Let Go of the Pressure to Parent Perfectly
Parenting can feel overwhelming, especially in a world filled with endless advice, opinions, and expectations. The truth is, raising a child isn&rsquo;t about getting every small decision perfectly right, it&rsquo;s about showing up with love, care, and intention, day after day.
Emily&rsquo;s book, <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Expecting-Better-Conventional-Pregnancy-Wrong/dp/0143125702">Expecting Better: Why the Conventional Pregnancy Wisdom Is Wrong--and What You Really Need to Know</a>, offers guidance through pregnancy and motherhood. Grab a copy now.
With Love and Gratitude,
Jay Shetty
JAY&rsquo;S DAILY WISDOM DELIVERED STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX
Join 900,000+ readers discovering how small daily shifts create big life change with my free newsletter. Subscribe <a href="https://news.jayshetty.me/subscribe">here</a>.&nbsp;
Check out our Apple subscription to unlock bonus content of On Purpose! <a href="https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast">https://lnk.to/JayShettyPodcast</a>&nbsp;
What We Discuss:
00:00 Intro
01:39 Why Does Parenting Feel Harder Today?
04:06 What the Data Really Says About Parenting
05:24 Don&rsquo;t Trust This Fertility Advice!
07:56 What Affects Sperm Health
09:51 Lifestyle Habits That Affect Fertility
12:26 Are Antidepressants Safe During Pregnancy?
15:02 Which Pregnancy Rules Actually Matter (And Which Don&rsquo;t)
18:25 When Is the Best Age to Have Kids?
21:56 Common Pregnancy Myths Debunked
31:19 How Dads Can Support After Birth
34:09 What&rsquo;s Actually Best for the Baby?
36:51 More Parenting and Pregnancy Myths
44:20 How to Deal With Mom Guilt
47:55 How to Raise Confident Kids
54:28 Parenting Decisions That Cause Stress
56:27 The Truth About Sleep Training
01:02:03 Does Crying It Out Harm Attachment?
01:04:12 How Much Screen Time Is Too Much?
01:09:40 The Truth About Childhood Vaccines
01:12:02 Are Kids Being Overmedicated?
01:14:35 The Many Paths to Parenthood
01:16:49 This or That: Parenting Edition
01:24:31 Emily on Final Five
Episode Resources:
Website | <a href="https://parentdata.org/">https://parentdata.org/</a>&nbsp;
Facebook | <a href="https://www.facebook.com/emily.oster.509/">https://www.facebook.com/emily.oster.509/</a>&nbsp;
Instagram | <a href="https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster">https://www.instagram.com/profemilyoster</a>&nbsp;
LinkedIn | <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentdata">https://www.linkedin.com/company/parentdata</a>&nbsp;
TikTok | <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@profemilyoster">https://www.tiktok.com/@profemilyoster</a>&nbsp;
X | <a href="https://x.com/ProfEmilyOster">https://x.com/ProfEmilyOster</a>&nbsp;

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.

I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

I’m Jay Shetty host of On Purpose the worlds #1 Mental Health podcast and I’m so grateful you found us. I started this podcast 5 years ago to invite you into conversations and workshops that are designed to help make you happier, healthier and more healed. I believe that when you (yes you) feel seen, heard and understood you’re able to deal with relationship struggles, work challenges and life’s ups and downs with more ease and grace.
I interview experts, celebrities, thought leaders and athletes so that we can grow our mindset, build better habits and uncover a side of them we’ve never seen before. New episodes every Monday and Friday. Your support means the world to me and I don’t take it for granted — click the follow button and leave a review to help us spread the love with On Purpose. I can’t wait for you to listen to your first or 500th episode!

On Purpose with Jay Shetty

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

My name is Jay Shetty, and my purpose is to make wisdom go viral. I’m fortunate to have fascinating conversations with the most insightful people in the world, and on my podcast, I’m sharing those conversations with you. New episodes Mondays and Fridays. Please rate and review the podcast if you enjoy it. Live life today ON PURPOSE.

Parenting Expert Emily Oster: The #1 Parenting Mistake That Causes Unnecessary Stress (Use THIS Data-Backed Framework to Debunk the Biggest Parenting Myths!)

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/5988d6bd-d210-4ed6-be01-b42b003108c5/transcript