There are some things moms just say. Who knows when they started saying them or why, it doesn’t really matter; what does matter is they aren’t true. Some are obvious parental lies, such as Santa Claus, or, “If you keep making that face it stick that way;” others are a bit trickier. Parenting advice from parents in particular can be full of falsities. I’m not trying to call dear old mom out, but here’s the real deal on some commonly given old school parenting advice.
Advice:
Letting your baby stand too soon will make him/her bowlegged.
Truth:
Bow legs in infants are actually caused by their position in the womb. Standing can exasperate the appearance of bow legs that are already present, but the exercise itself actually helps strengthen the leg muscles and eliminate bow legs. The initial appearance is likely why this old parenting advice was born.
Advice:
A bit of honey cures a colicky baby.
Truth:
While honey, and even sugar water for that matter, will indeed soothe a fussy baby, honey can be dangerous to infants and should never be given to babies under the age of 1. Your baby’s digestive system is still immature. Spores within honey, which are harmless to an adult with a fully developed digestive system, can cause botulism in infants. Water and sugar are also not recommended on a regular basis, because they can fill a baby up with empty calories and reduce breast milk or formula intake. It is, however, true that sugar water works as an effective pain reliever in infants for things such as immunizations.
Advice:
Feed your baby a cereal bottle to help him/her sleep all night.
Truth:
It’s been proven that infants who are given cereal bottles do not sleep for longer periods of time due to being full longer. Cereal bottles can easily lead to overeating, which can cause obesity as well as tummy trouble. An upset stomach leads to less sleep, not more.
Advice:
A bit of booze on the gums cures teething pain.
Truth:
While a high proof alcohol rubbed on the gums will indeed numb the pain, there are many safer modern medications which do the same thing and do not expose your baby to a poison-yes, alcohol is a poison. Alcohol placed on the gums is indeed absorbed into the blood stream and may have negative health effects.
What’s the most outdated parenting advice you’ve ever been given?
You may also enjoy:
Dangerous Foods for Baby in the First Year
More Outdated Parenting Advice
Dealing with Unwanted Parenting Advice