Common myths about raising a baby

There is a lot for new parents to learn.

Their daily routines, household dynamics, and way of life all alter after the birth of their child. To help new parents weed out misconceptions, here are some common parenting myths. Consider these common parenting myths that’ll help put you and your spouse at ease during those early days with baby. A parent plays an important role in their child’s life

It might be exhausting to constantly be bombarded with information from loved ones, doctors, books, the internet, and social media. It’s not just a rumor that a mother and child are connected on a level much deeper than just blood relation, those bonds go as far as matching heartbeats

It can be challenging to tell fact from fiction as parents learn to negotiate their new duties.

We dispel some of these beliefs about infants to make it easier for you to decide which ones you may entirely disregard.

 

20 Myths About Babies

1. Burp Your Baby After Feeding to Avoid Fussiness

False: If seasoned parents chastise you for not burping your infant, use research to support your arguments. According to a 2014 study comparing burped and non-burped babies, the burped group did not exhibit any less crying than the non-burped group. These burped infants had a twofold increased chance of spitting up.

While a baby’s burp may calm them down, there are other causes of gas buildup. For instance, a baby being bottle-fed can have absorbed too much air and be unhappy as a result of stomach gas that hasn’t been released.

 

2. A Pacifier is Bad for Breastfeeding

False: Pacifier use does not alter the regularity or duration of breastfeeding, whether it is introduced to infants at birth or within the first two weeks. Also, the American Academy of Pediatrics discovered that babies who use pacifiers before bed have a lower incidence of SIDS.

 

3. Babies Cannot See

False: Although a newborn’s vision is not the best, it is a fallacy that babies are blind.

The American Optometric Association claims that because newborns are unable to move their eyes between two objects, they are unable to distinguish contrast at birth.

They focus best at this point eight to ten inches away from their face.

A baby’s eyes will begin to cooperate and its vision will develop within the first few months.

Their eyes can monitor movements followed by a reach with their hands as their eye-hand coordination improves at this stage.

Their gaze might be trained on an adult’s face or on surrounding neighbors.

It is best to go to your pediatrician if you suspect that your newborn has visual problems.

 

4. Babies Cannot Hear

False: Contrary to popular belief, babies can hear back to when they were still in the womb!

A infant may hear external sounds even though their responses to them are delayed since their ears don’t develop until about five weeks after conception.

According to one study, newborns won’t start responding reliably to outside noises until they are between 20 and 22 weeks old.

In the later stages of pregnancy, a fetus is able to distinguish between different voices and unique phrases.

When a baby is born, they can quickly recognize its mother’s voice, her native tongue, and the music she listened to during the final 10 weeks of her pregnancy.

 

5. You’ll Spoil Your Baby If You Pick Them Up When They Cry

Myth: Picking up a crying baby will spoil them Truth: You cannot spoil a young baby. Crying is one way in which babies communicate

Will it, however, cause more harm than good? When babies cry (and cry and cry), it usually doesn’t mean they’re sick or in pain. Many newbie parents almost always hear that ignoring a baby’s cry is okay and sometimes needed.

Strict parents who use punishment may affect their children’s behavior in the short term, but sooner or later, the bad behavior returns because they are not motivated to behave better.

In the first three months, a baby cries for about three hours a day since there is no other way to communicate.

Their sobs indicate that they are thirsty, worn out, lonely, or uncomfortable.

According to Dr. Barbara Howard, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, a spoiled child is one that uses crying—which babies don’t begin to do until about month nine—as a means of manipulation.

 

6. Baby’s First Smiles are Not Related to Gas

False: We’re sorry to break it to you, but those baby grins are actually farts.

Throughout their first two months, babies smile in reaction to internal cues like gas.

A newborn doesn’t start smiling in public until the end of the second month.

Additionally, when someone smiles at them, they may feel joyful and appreciated, and this causes them to begin to grin back. This is why a social smile differs from a gasp.

 

7. Breastfeeding Moms Can Only Eat Bland Food

False: A mother’s body automatically recognizes the amount of nutrients a baby requires at each developmental stage, claims the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Breast milk from a mother naturally changes the nutritional profile for the infant.

However, certain foods and beverages, like as alcohol and caffeine, should be avoided by nursing mothers.

Also, moms who are nursing should exercise caution while consuming fish that contains high mercury levels, hot or gas-producing meals, and typical allergy triggers like dairy or nuts.

You may wish to review your diet and cut out specific items if a newborn is displaying unusual symptoms.

 

8. Newborns Should Stay Inside

False: Of all, it all depends on the type of excursion you’re planning.

Medical professionals advise against bringing a newborn anywhere crowded until they are a few months old.

This does not exclude you from taking your infant outside for a stroll and some fresh air, but they should be clothed for the conditions.

Prior to holding, touching, or feeding your newborn when relatives and friends come to visit, make sure everyone washes their hands.

 

9. Add Rice Cereal to Their Bedtime Bottle to Sleep Longer.

False: A study of 106 newborns compared those who received cereal before bed to those who did not.

Researchers observed no statistically significant trends or a regular propensity for one group to sleep more than the other.

Yet, because it may raise the risk of choking, neither the AAP nor the CDC advise giving your newborn rice cereal.

 

10. Babies Should Be Given Water

False: Water should not be given to infants under six months old since it may induce illness and decrease their nutritional needs.

A baby may consume less breast milk or formula if they are given water or if too much water is added to their formula.

You can start introducing a little amount of water to your baby’s meals once they are six months old.

A baby shouldn’t begin drinking water until they are 12 months old.

 

11. Babies are Born with the Same Amount of Bones That Adults Have

False: Adults have 206 bones that provide our bodies with structure, enable mobility, safeguard our organs, and more.

A newborn has 300 bones at birth.

Although it may seem strange, a baby’s bones are entirely composed of cartilage.

This cartilage is flexible and squishy, and as the child develops, the cartilage fuses to form bones

False: It’s simple to believe that the arrival of your child will deepen your relationship and closeness.

Nevertheless, not everyone experiences this.

The “baby blues,” which can cause tension, anxiety, and melancholy in certain mothers, can also cause postpartum depression, which also hinders bonding.

 

12. Teething Can Cause a Fever

False: If your kid has started to show signs of teething and has a temperature, it’s more probable that they have a cold than that they are teething.

Your baby’s body temperature may rise slightly during teething, but if it rises above 100.4 degrees, you may need medical attention.

The typical signs of teething include fussiness, irritability, drooling, and crying spells.

 

13. Babies Have Kneecaps

Contrary to popular belief, infants are born with cartilage fragments that eventually develop into the bony kneecap. Baby walkers help infants learn to walk. Some studies show that baby walkers can delay their walking process. An infant’s kneecaps don’t actually mature until at least six months of age, which is why they can be seen crawling on their arms initially, rather than their legs and knees.

 

14. Babies Need a Bath Daily

Myth: Infants need to be bathed every day Truth: It is fine to bath your baby every day if they enjoy it, but young babies do not need a bath every day. They just need their face, neck, hands and nappy area to be kept clean.

You can cross that task off your list by not bathing your child every day. In addition to a protective layer, natural oils, and normal, healthy bacteria, newborns have sensitive skin. Children’s skin can become dry, itchy, and irritated if soaps or cleansers are used excessively on it.

Warm water and a washcloth before bedtime are the ideal conditions for taking a daily bath. Choose fragrance-free choices that maintain your baby’s skin soft and irritation-free if you’re a parent who prefers to use baby shampoo and soap. Think of only bathing your infant three times a week at most.

 

15. Listening to Classical Music Raises a Baby’s IQ

False: Although it would be wonderful if music could increase your child’s intelligence, this claim is untrue. The “Mozart Effect” was named after a 1999 study that focused on college students and discovered an improvement in abstract reasoning following Mozart’s musical listening. Sadly, the investigation showed that this effect was simply a short-term increase. Newborn baby is easily overwhelmed by his or her surroundings.

Turn to books, meals with healthy fats that promote brain growth, and developmental toys to assist increase your baby’s intelligence. Remember, with every hug and kiss, with every nutritious meal and game you play with them, you’re helping to build your baby’s brain!

 

16. Babies Need to Poop Once a Day

False: The frequency of bowel movements varies from baby to baby.

If your kid is going less frequently than you anticipate, don’t be alarmed; some babies go every two to three days.

Infants who are breastfed have more poop than infants who are fed formula.

 

17. Being Cold Makes Babies Sick

False: Since a cold requires exposure to a virus, being exposed to cold temperatures does not equal catching one.

Yet you should take precautions by dressing your child appropriately.

It is recommended to keep your infant inside if they are feeling under the weather so that the cold won’t exacerbate their symptoms.

 

18. Walkers are Great for Babies

False: Because baby walkers pose a safety risk, the AAP is trying to outlaw their sale, just as Canada has done.

In a recent study, infants 15 months of age or less who visited the emergency room in the United States had almost 230,000 walker-related visits.

Walkers have a reputation for delaying the learning process since they rely exclusively on their own strength to pull, stand, and balance themselves while walking.

 

19. Newborns are Bottom-heavy

False: A baby’s head, which accounts for one-quarter to one-third of its whole body length, contributes 25% of the weight of the infant.

Due to the baby’s rapid brain development throughout the first four months, the baby’s head also grows at the fastest rate, making this milestone crucial for sitting up and supporting the baby’s head.

The next time a family member or close friend offers you advice concerning your child, keep in mind that it’s better to take it lightly and do some research to see if it’s true because it might just be a myth.

Consult your doctor, who can provide you with further information about your baby’s health if you’re still unsure.