15 Totally Outdated Pieces of Baby Advice

Everyone appears to have an opinion about what would be best for you and your child when you have a child. You will receive tons of unsolicited advice when you announce your new arrival. But much of yesterday’s “knowledge” turned out to be false. The following 15 Outdated Pieces of Baby Advice.

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Infants must be bathed daily

Babies only need a bath every two to three days (unless there has been a massive diaper explosion! ), as they don’t get as stinking from sweat as adults. A daily bath is fine if it’s a part of your wind-down regimen; moisturize afterward.

Babies do best in a quiet, dark environment

While some kids have trouble falling asleep, most manage just fine with some light and background noise. Additionally, if your child becomes accustomed to activities while sleeping, they can be more inclined to nap in various circumstances.

Allowing your child to stand or bounce in your lap may eventually lead to bowlegs

It’s a myth that your youngster will get bowlegged by standing or bouncing on you. Allowing your child to stand or bounce is enjoyable and developmentally stimulating because small babies are still learning how to support their weight on their legs and determine their center of gravity.

Introducing your child to classical music will increase their IQ

Having a newborn listen to music can enhance their lives, but no clear studies have shown that this can significantly improve their brain development.

You will spoil a baby if you pick them up every time they cry

Babies under 4 months old have few self-soothing techniques; they can suck to calm down and enjoy being wrapped in a blanket, but that’s about it. When babies cry, picking them up teaches them that their parents are always there to care for them.

To change a baby’s wet diaper during the night, parents should wake them

Because modern diapers are so extremely absorbent and urine is sterile, it is acceptable to leave a baby in a wet diaper overnight. However, you should change your baby’s diaper if their poopy diaper seems to be bothering them.

Never put sunscreen on a baby under six months old

While it is essential to shield your child from the sun’s harmful UV rays, you can and should apply sunscreen if they will be outdoors. Their risk of developing skin cancer outweighs their risk of an allergic reaction.

But how exactly should you use sunscreen? The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends taking a straightforward approach. Without protective gear and shade, the AAP advises sunscreen on tiny body regions, such as the face and hands. However, if you have a choice, go with coverage. A tree, an umbrella, or a stroller canopy are good places to find shade.

For infants less than three months, all baby bottles and nipples must be sterilized

When you initially take bottles and nipples out of the packaging, you do need to sterilize them, but after that, washing them with soap and water is OK. (If you’d want, you could also put them in the dishwasher and use the sanitize setting.) Infants are exposed to considerably more bacteria than are found on a thoroughly cleaned bottle or nipple.

Putting a baby to sleep on their stomach is the safest method

Babies should always sleep on their backs to ensure their safety. In the past, doctors were concerned that newborns who weren’t resting on their tummies or sides might choke on any spit-up, but studies eventually connected these positions to a higher risk of SIDS.

Your infant will sleep better if you put rice cereal in their bottle

Do not start food until 4 to 6 months of age. Early solid food introduction has been linked to obesity later in life, and studies have found that solid food-fed newborns sleep worse than their formula-fed counterparts. This is according to research.

Keep Your Baby on a Strict Feeding Schedule at All Times

While following a schedule can make sense, eating when you’re hungry is typically preferable, especially in the first two months. Following then, you can observe a pattern of feedings every two or three hours. Early on, it’s crucial to constantly watch for hunger and fullness indicators.

Hard-soled shoes are necessary for infants to keep their feet aligned properly and protect their toes

Babies should be barefoot indoors because they use their toes to hold their walking surfaces. Get a shoe with strong traction on the sole to keep little feet safe outside; hard-soled shoes may be too slippery.

At Least Once a Day, Babies Need to Poo

According to Andrew Adesman, M.D., chief of developmental and behavioral pediatrics at Schneider Children’s Hospital in New York, parents frequently believe an infant is constipated when they are not. A newborn may have multiple bowel movements during the day, but by the time they are around two to three months old, he says, they may only go every three to four days. Call your physician if bowel movements are difficult and infrequent or if you notice blood in the diaper.

Your baby’s brain could suffer if you touch its soft spot

The fontanel, sometimes known as the “soft spot,” is a skin-covered aperture in the baby’s skull that beats, which some parents find terrifying. Although there is a preconception of vulnerability, Dr. Adesman asserts that the brain is quite well protected. The smaller soft spot in the back of the head typically closes at 2 to 3 months, whereas the larger fontanel in the front typically closes at around one year.

Babies become ill when it’s cold

Cold weather won’t make your child ill, though they might require assistance controlling their body temperature. Both bacteria and viruses do this.