Written by Editorial Team
There are a lot of myths about caring for babies because they were passed down from generation to generation before we had research to prove them wrong. This misconception, or “baby care myths,” ranges from what to do if your baby has a fever to how to introduce solids, and many of them can also be hazardous to your baby’s health.
Pregnancy and parenting are surely the hot topics on which everyone has something or other to dole out advice. Here are some common baby care myths debunked, along with actual explanations. This is an attempt to segregate the wheat from the chaff.
Every parent wants to provide the finest possible care for their child. When it comes to taking care of your newborn, you listen to every recommendation made by your family elders, or friends. As a consequence, you begin to believe the myths presented by elders, believing that they are beneficial to your infant. But you have to know the truth behind all of our long-held beliefs and traditions.
Find out the top 15 baby care myths
Fact: Does this sound true? Well, if it is evil, surely God would be there too. And if God is present, He will keep your baby safe from all harm. This myth holds no relevance and is discarded by many progressive families.
Fact: Massages help enhance blood circulation and nourish the baby’s skin. According to doctors, a warm water bath after a massage can also help the baby sleep soundly.
Fact: Though advised, women who have a C-section or babies who go straight to the nursery need not take this too hard. A baby-mother relationship will eventually develop and a few hours or days of separation is not going to hamper it.
Fact: Breast milk is ideal for your baby, as it has highly nutritious natural ingredients that increase your baby’s immunity. The baby’s immune mechanism is also strengthened by breastfeeding. Packaged milk is not healthy for your baby. If needed, consult your pediatrician before giving a bottle to your baby.
Fact: Apart from highly allergic foods, like nuts, soy, dairy, etc, new mothers can eat just about everything as the baby gets to taste and develop the same through the feeds.
Fact: Instead of bananas, give a cereal made of ground rice, which is high in iron and easy to digest. After a few months, you can give mashed bananas too.
Fact: You can bathe your baby even when he or she has a mild fever, cold, or cough. However, you should keep the baby covered to protect them from catching a cold. Drape the baby immediately after bathing. Also, babies do not necessarily need to be bathed every day, a day or two can be skipped.
Give a sponge bath if the baby is having a high-grade fever. A cool dab in the summer and a warm bath during the winter are recommended for your tiny toddler.
Fact: The main concern is whether Ayurvedic products like Janam photos, etc. are prepared under proper hygienic conditions. Avoid giving gripe water or janam ghuttis in the first year of birth as your baby’s stomach is tender to digest these things. You can however give these in the second year.
Fact: Nipple confusion is seen when the baby first bottle feeds and then breastfeeds. This is seen when either mother dies at the time of birth or if she is severely ill. During breastfeeding, the baby has to make more effort as compared to bottle feeding. So, if the baby has a choice he would prefer having bottle feeds.
Fact: Well, natural products like bison or hemp are not as mild as they are claimed to be. They can cause skin allergies or rashes in children. Use hypoallergic baby care products as they are safe for your baby’s delicate skin.
Fact: This is not true because babies usually clean their noses by sneezing. Sneezing therefore does not imply cold.
Fact: In the first few months, do not give anything except water. Simply breastfeed, as your milk has sufficient water and nothing extra is required.
Fact: Some mothers often add rice cereal to the bedtime bottle as they feel that this will make the baby sleep soundly. Solids should not be introduced to babies until they are about 4 months old; science has linked early solids introduction to obesity.
Fact: Under 4 months of age, babies tend to adopt their own soothing strategies. Picking them up and hugging them when they cry, make them believe that their parents are always there to take care of them.
Fact: Well, unless there is a condition of extreme weather, fresh air is actually good for your baby.
Because there is so much information available about how to be a good parent and how to care for a newborn, it can be difficult to know what exactly to do. We hope this article debunks a few of the more widespread myths that you might have heard or read about infants and newborns.
With a rich experience in pregnancy and parenting, our team of experts create insightful, well-curated, and easy-to-read content for our to-be-parents and parents at all stages of parenting.Read more.
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