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Becoming a new parent can be very overwhelming, especially when it feels like every more experienced parent around us wants to dole out advice. While baby myths and old wives' tales abound and many of them do hold up over time, some of those common beliefs simply aren't true, whether they're about feeding, baby development, or the all-important newborn sleep cycle.
Recently, Mom.com spoke with Dr. Steph Lee, a pediatrician and spokesperson for the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), about the most commonly held baby myths and whether they're true or false. With so much information out there, it can be hard to distinguish what's truth and what's a myth, but with the help of baby experts, it's a bit easier to tell the difference.
Baby "expert" advice: Separating fact from fiction about newborns
No sooner is your baby in your arms than is advice being hurled at you, but as it turns out, two of the most popular warnings doled out to new moms are actually false.
1. You should never wake a sleeping baby
According to Dr. Lee, this one is false — even if you're lucky enough to get a baby who sleeps through the night right away, it can be very important to wake them for feedings to make sure they're taking in enough nutrition.
"In the first few weeks, a baby should be eating every 2 to 3 hours and at 2 months old, about every 3 to 4 hours," Lee told Mom.com. "You should wake your baby to feed definitely by the 4 hour mark until you and your pediatrician determine your baby is gaining good weight and can afford to sleep through the night."
When can you stop waking baby up? That's a decision that should be discussed with your baby's doctor, but the AAP says that might happen around the two month mark.
2. It's possible to hold a newborn too much
No, you can't spoil a newborn — go ahead and cuddle that little one as much as you want. As Lee points out, keeping that baby close is a great bonding experience for mom and baby, especially in those first few weeks while they're still getting to know each other, and hearing your voice and seeing your face will help baby feel safe.
Common medical baby myths
Having a sick baby can be one of the scariest parts of new motherhood, especially when it's so hard for them to communicate so early on. But when it comes to fevers, there are a couple of myths to be aware of.
3. Teething gives babies fevers
This one is false — and fevers in young babies should never be written off as teething, because something more serious could be going on. "Teething can cause your baby to be irritable, to cry and be fussy, but it should never cause a fever, defined as a temperature over 100.4F, or 38C," said Lee. "If your baby develops a temperature over 100.4F, it’s a good time to call your pediatrician for a visit."
Moms have tried all kinds of ways to ease pain from teething, and it's usually up to the individual baby to decide what method works best for them. "I was a big fan of teethers that we kept in the freezer. Chewing on something cold seemed to help," mom of two Amy Wruble previously told Mom.com. "I'd also offer foods that were good to gnaw on, in large pieces that couldn't be accidentally swallowed, such as a bagel or a watermelon rind."
4. Giving a baby Tylenol before vaccines can reduce the chance of a fever
According to Lee, the jury's still out on this one — and giving Tylenol as a precaution can be more dangerous, because masking a fever isn't necessarily a good thing. "Low-grade fevers after vaccinations mean your baby’s immune system is working to build a good defense," she said. "However, if your baby is very fussy and irritable that night when you get home, it’s fine to give a small dose to help with any pain and soreness."
There are other vaccine reactions to look out for, too; according to the CDC, those can include symptoms like soreness, swelling or redness at the injection site, a loss of appetite, and vomiting. It's always best to check with your pediatrician if you notice any of these symptoms developing.
Most common myths about the ways babies grow
Past the newborn stage, it's easy to get excited about helping our babies learn and grow. But keeping in mind that not all the myths we've heard about this part of their development are true is important — especially since some of them can actually be harmful.
5. Using a walker is harmful for babies
This myth happens to be true. Not only does using a walker offer no additional benefit, but it can actually become dangerous for your baby, according to Lee.
"Infant walkers can be potentially dangerous, because it allows your infant to be more mobile than they can developmentally handle," she said. "Infant walkers allow babies to move faster than parents anticipate and reach higher than parents realize, leading to injuries by falling down stairs or out of the walker."
6. Classical music can make a baby smarter
Despite the fact that we've heard for years that we should play our babies Mozart starting in the womb, this one's actually false. However, playing any kind of music — as well as talking and singing to your baby — is great to help them learn language skills.
7. Starting solids early can help avoid food allergies
This myth is true, and while it's important to keep in communication with your pediatrician, introducing them to allergens around six months of age can help them avoid those allergies developing entirely.
"It is now recommended that infants be introduced to allergen foods, such as peanuts, eggs, and shellfish as early as possible after starting other solid foods around 6 months of age," Lee said.
As always, before taking any parenting advice that could affect your child's health, it's important to do the research — and consult your pediatrician.
