#178 – Emily Oster on what the evidence actually says about pregnancy and parenting

80,000 Hours Podcast

"I think at various times — before you have the kid, after you have the kid — it's useful to sit down and think about: What do I want the shape of this to look like? What time do I want to be spending? Which hours? How do I want the weekends to look? The things that are going to shape the way your day-to-day goes, and the time you spend with your kids, and what you're doing in that time with your kids, and all of those things: you have an opportunity to deliberately plan them. And you can then feel like, 'I've thought about this, and this is a life that I want. This is a life that we're trying to craft for our family, for our kids.' And that is distinct from thinking you're doing a good job in every moment — which you can't achieve. But you can achieve, 'I'm doing this the way that I think works for my family.'" — Emily Oster

In today’s episode, host Luisa Rodriguez speaks to Emily Oster — economist at Brown University, host of the ParentData podcast, and the author of three hugely popular books that provide evidence-based insights into pregnancy and early childhood.

Links to learn more, summary, and full transcript.

They cover:

• Common pregnancy myths and advice that Emily disagrees with — and why you should probably get a doula.
• Whether it’s fine to continue with antidepressants and coffee during pregnancy.
• What the data says — and doesn’t say — about outcomes from parenting decisions around breastfeeding, sleep training, childcare, and more.
• Which factors really matter for kids to thrive — and why that means parents shouldn’t sweat the small stuff.
• How to reduce parental guilt and anxiety with facts, and reject judgemental “Mommy Wars” attitudes when making decisions that are best for your family.
• The effects of having kids on career ambitions, pay, and productivity — and how the effects are different for men and women.
• Practical advice around managing the tradeoffs between career and family.
• What to consider when deciding whether and when to have kids.
• Relationship challenges after having kids, and the protective factors that help.
• And plenty more.

Producer and editor: Keiran Harris
Audio Engineering Lead: Ben Cordell
Technical editing: Simon Monsour and Milo McGuire
Additional content editing: Katy Moore and Luisa Rodriguez
Transcriptions: Katy Moore