10 Infant Care Myths
A newborn baby seems so fragile and touching that parents are willing to do anything to prevent it from any trouble. Very often they are too zealous doing this, especially if they follow the advice of their grandmothers and other members of the “team of advisors”.
Myth 1: “No hands! Otherwise, the child will get used to it”
Psychologists believe that tactile contact is of extraordinary importance for newborns. It is not necessary to deprive the baby of the sense of protection and peace of mind; otherwise in the future it may have problems with communication, being reserved and staying away from others. If you take the baby in your arms from birth, when it cries, cannot sleep, is upset about something, the baby will feel extremely well in the atmosphere of love and trust. Modern pediatricians say that parents should take the babies who are not breastfed in their arms while feeding them for a similar reason.
Myth 2: “Babies should grow up in a sterile environment with no pets”
It is not necessary to boil water every day to bathe your baby and sterilize bottles and jars. Once the baby is born, the immune system gradually starts to develop immunity against different pathogenic and potentially pathogenic microorganisms. That is why the baby is not defenseless. If the baby is in contact with pets, it is not likely to have a problem with allergies and asthma. At least, their probability will be reduced by several times.
But, of course, we should not rush into extremes. For example, until the umbilical wound heals (and it will take about 10 days), the baby should better be bathed in boiled water because boiling both disinfects and makes water softer. And of course, a newborn baby’s cot is not the place for a cat or dog.
Myth 3: “Let the baby cry as much as it wants, the voice will just become louder”
Always try to console the baby, especially if the umbilical wound has not healed yet. When a baby cries, the pressure in the umbilical vein increases, the wound bleeds, and its healing takes more time.
Myth 4: “All herbs are safe, so we can constantly bathe the baby in herbal infusions and give them to the baby to drink”
All herbs contain a particular chemical element, which influences the sick organ and the entire body. Harmless drugs do not exist. So you should bathe your baby and treat it with herbs only after consulting with your pediatrician.
Myth 5: “Babies do not need water, they get it from milk” and “Babies need to drink all the time”
Firstly, it depends on the type of feeding. If the baby is given an infant formula or receives mixed feeding, it is necessary to give it some water. Normally, this amount does not exceed 200 ml per day till the age of six months. Secondly, the baby’s body has a peculiar feature: in the first months of life, water creates the feeling of fullness in it, and the baby refuses to breastfeed. In other words, water “replaces” the volume of nutritious milk in the baby’s stomach, and the baby loses a lot of nutrients needed for its growth. Therefore, water is given only after the baby receives milk. If the baby is given infant formulas, water should be drunk between feedings. In both cases, kids are also given water when they have a sense of unease.
Myth 6: “You can’t take too many vitamins, and they are removed from the body anyway”
Hypervitaminosis is easy to get, but difficult to cure. All vitamins and the products enriched with vitamins should be prescribed. Mother’s milk or an infant formula without additional intake of vitamins will provide the newborn with all the necessary substances.
Myth 7: “Kids need daily massages”
Massaging should be prescribed, too. It is practiced as courses of not more than 20 sessions. Then, there should be a break for at least three weeks; otherwise the child will get overexcited.
