10 Shocking Parenting Moments in Bluey That Will Leave You Speechless

Summary

Bandit's pride gets the best of him in "Obstacle Course" and he cheats in a race against Bluey, showing that even the best parents make mistakes.

Chili and Bandit willingly endure the girls' playful attacks, blurring the distinction between innocent horseplay and inappropriate boundaries.

In "Mini Bluey," Bandit's bias towards Bingo instead of Bluey underscores the notion that parents occasionally show preference towards one child's conduct or behavior over the other's.

Bandit and Chili Heeler, the seemingly perfect parents in Bluey, have their fair share of parenting mishaps. However, these moments serve as valuable teaching moments not only for their children but also for adult viewers. Produced by Australia's Ludo Studio, this popular preschool television program has gained immense popularity worldwide, partly due to its availability on Disney+. The heart of the show revolves around Bluey, an inquisitive and imaginative young anthropomorphic pup. Bluey's family, known as the Heelers, consists of her younger sister, Bingo, and their parents, Chili and Bandit.

The show's success lies in its ability to entertain both children and adults alike, offering not only humor but also valuable life lessons. Bandit, the rare and devoted stay-at-home dad who actively participates in his children's lives and adventures, has become a favorite among fans and critics. On the other hand, Chili represents a different kind of mother, balancing work and her own social life. While the Heeler parents are generally commendable, they make occasional mistakes, highlighting that they too have room for growth and learning in their parenting journey.

7 When Bandit Cheats In "Obstacle Course"

Bandit Heeler is generally relatable and enjoys incorporating pop culture references into Bluey's life. He prioritizes his children, Bluey and Bingo, above everything else. However, Bandit's pride gets the better of him in "Obstacle Course." When Chili sets up a fun agility course in the backyard, Bandit turns it into a competition. Initially, he wins the race against Bluey, leading her to cheat in their rematch.

Realizing that winning unfairly doesn't feel satisfying, Bluey works hard to improve her skills and apologizes. She then challenges Bandit once again. To everyone's surprise, Bandit realizes that Bluey is about to win the race fair and square. In a desperate move, he holds her back so that he can cross the finish line first. Chili exclaims in disbelief, "What was that?" Adding insult to injury, Bandit refuses to confess that he cheated to avoid losing to his own child.

6 Chili & Bandit Let The Girls Attack Them For Fun

Although it may be acceptable to engage in playful violence against Bandit in the upcoming Bluey video game, the fact that Chili and Bandit allow the girls to physically attack them for amusement is problematic in the show. This questionable parenting behavior is not limited to just one episode. On occasion, the girls find amusement in climbing on their parents, as depicted in the memorable "Mount Mumandad," but there is a distinction between harmless play and using Bluey's parents as play structures or objects to be struck. Even when Bandit explicitly instructs the girls to cease their actions, he is often tickled and assaulted. Clearly, the Heelers are in need of assistance to establish more definitive boundaries with their children.

5 Bluey Hears Bandit Say He Rather Have “Double Bingo”

With its in-jokes, pop culture references, and captivating subtext, Bluey sometimes appeals more to adults than to kids. Take the season 3 episode "Mini Bluey," for example, which offers a thought-provoking lesson for grown-ups. Initially, Bluey schools Bingo on the art of being her mini-me. However, the tables turn and Bluey transforms into Big Bingo, imitating her younger sister's helpful nature. "Double Bingo," Bandit remarks, "I could definitely get used to this."

Upon hearing this, Bluey becomes upset and flees. Instead of pursuing her, Bandit remains behind and allows his other child to comfort the one he has deeply wounded. Once the girls depart, Bandit remarks to Chili, "But seriously, how impressive is double Bingo?" — and she wholeheartedly agrees. Surprisingly, the Heeler parents fail to offer an apology to Bluey, a decision that has garnered criticism from viewers. Nevertheless, while this pivotal incident exposes a flaw in both Bandit and Chili's characters, the entire episode tactfully explores the notion that parents sometimes show favoritism towards one child's actions or behavior over the other's.

4 Chili's Lack Of Boundaries In "Omelette"

In "Omelette," Chili and the girls decide to surprise Bandit by making breakfast in bed for his birthday. Initially, Chili assigns Bluey the task of setting up the breakfast tray while Bingo focuses on creating a personalized card for their dad. Meanwhile, Chili takes charge of cooking the omelette, the centerpiece of the meal. However, Bingo's eagerness to try her hand in the kitchen leads to some delays in preparing the breakfast. As a result, a famished Bandit is forced to remain in bed throughout the morning, while Bingo unknowingly wastes a carton of eggs and other ingredients due to Chili's lack of supervision. This incident highlights the delicate balance between instilling confidence and independence in children and the potential for creating challenging situations. Chili's failure to set clear boundaries or provide proper guidance serves as a cringe-worthy parenting moment.

3 Bandit Bribes Bingo In One Bluey Episode

Bluey may be considered one of the top TV shows in 2023, but that doesn't mean the Heelers always come out victorious. In episode "Dance Mode" of season 2, an unfortunate incident occurs during breakfast when Bandit unintentionally consumes Bingo's last chip, leaving the youngest Heeler feeling upset. In an effort to make amends, Bandit and Chili decide to grant Bingo three "dance modes," meaning she has the power to make someone in the family dance whenever they are out and about.

After successfully making Chili dance in a crosswalk and Bandit dance at a cashier desk, Bandit attempts to buy back the final dance mode. He offers a bribe of 20 dollars, which Bingo ultimately accepts after Bluey encourages her to do so. While Bandit is relieved that his bribe worked, Chili quietly expresses her disapproval by saying, "This is not good parenting." This moment in the show acknowledges that Bandit's actions were not setting a positive example.

2 Bandit Fails To Keep The Kids In Line (In Public)

1 When Bandit Lets Bluey Be The Parent

Episodes such as "Movies" and "Hammerbarn" vividly demonstrate Bandit and Chili's inability to effectively control their mischievous children. The particular episode in question revolves around Bluey's inaugural visit to the cinema. However, chaos ensues when Bingo's behavior spirals out of control, causing Bandit significant distress. Bingo not only darts around the theater lobby and disrupts the bathroom, but also wreaks havoc during the movie by continuously roaming the cinema. Regrettably, this is not the first time the kids have exhibited unruly behavior in public. In the episode "Hammerbarn," Bluey and Bingo run wild in a hardware store, causing havoc by breaking merchandise and creating an absolute mess.

Bluey's Heeler family tree is remarkably extensive for a preschool age cartoon. However, things become significantly more complicated when Bluey and Bandit decide to switch roles, as demonstrated in season 1's episode "Kids." During a trip to the local grocery store, Bandit allows Bluey to assume the role of the parent, while he takes on the character of a disobedient child. While it is generally enjoyable at the Heeler homestead when Bandit engages in the kids' imaginative games, witnessing this behavior in public becomes distressing. In fact, this striking display of inadequate parenting begs us to question whether the Heeler family should be granted permission to use shopping carts or venture into supermarkets at all in future episodes of Bluey.