9 months over ….. Time for delivery and in few minutes your little one is in front of you. Right after the birth grandparent's, friends and society flood parents all advice how to take care of the baby and we being parents start believing the MYTHS, not realizing that some of the myths should be avoided. We as Mom and Dad have to make sure we have accurate information all along for a healthy baby development. Before getting discharged from hospital the team of doctors does educate the parents with certain DO's and DONT's and also we were told by our doctors too. We should follow this strictly and we realize that they are completely against what we have been said as parents so far. So we Parents lets face the reality and not the myths for the betterment of our little one.
I would like to discuss few important and common Myths that we usually fell prey to follow:
Myth 1: Newborns should be given honey at the time of birth.
Fact: Please avoid it as it should never be given to the babies before they are atleast a year old. Science says that honey can lead to botulism in infants (lay man word – poison) as it is proven source of clostridium bacteria that causes it.
Myth 2: Applying kajal/kohl to a baby will make his/her eyes healthier and more beautiful.
Fact: We should not apply kajal/kohl to newborn babies to make his/her eyes healthy or beautiful as it might lead to an infection. A baby’s eyes and skin are more sensitive, so it is prescribed not to use any cosmetics. Only dermatological tested product prescribed by doctor should be used. Even homemade kajal should be avoided, as it can lead to allergic reactions or infections in a baby.
Myth 3: Adding cerelac to your baby’s feed would make the little one sleep longer
Fact: Never give any solid foods and cereals to your newborn for the first six months and should be on breastfeed or formulated milk (prescribed by doctor) exclusively. Adding rice cereals or cerelac before six-months could be hard for the baby to digest and might give them serious problems like stomach infection (colic).
Myth 4: Teething can cause fevers and diarrhea
Fact: Teething does not cause any kind of stomach infection or fever and if teething baby gets sick it could be due to something else. Babies tend to put a number of things in their mouth to soothe their itchy gums and cause stomach infection or fever.
Myth 5: Dabbing a lot of powder
Fact: Sometimes it’s ok to apply powder but we should not dab the little one with a lot of talcum powder. Using large amounts of talcum powder might also increase the chances of powder inhalation. As a result fine powder particles may settle in the baby’s lungs and cause lung damage, breathing hazards or other respiratory infections. However, if you really like to use powder for your baby, go for organic powders that contain cornstarch and other harmless substances. (Mamaearth Dusting Powder)
Myth 6: Using besan and ubtan to remove body hair and skin colour
Fact: Using besan or ubtan especially before the first six months could harm babies. If your baby has a lot of body hair, don’t worry as it will fall off when they grow up. Always check with your doctor before using any such product.
Myth 7: Giving gripe water/ ghutti to an infant
Fact: Whenever a baby cries our mother or mother-in-law or aunty would ask you to give the baby gripe water. It’s a homeopathy medicine not allopathy as it might work for older babies who are more than a year old, giving to newborn babies anything other than breast milk or formulated milk is a NO-NO from doctors. Anything other than that may increase the risk of introducing bacteria, causing allergies and irritating the baby’s intestines.
Myth 8: Applying mustard oil on nostrils/ear
Fact: Applying mustard oil is the most trusted massage oil for babies in India. While it has a lot of benefits for the baby, using it for other things besides massage could harm the baby, especially if you put it in the babies’ ears or nostrils. It could lead to an ear infection. So, say strict NO to this practice.
Myth 9: A newborn baby should be kept inside the house.
Fact: A newborn baby is delicate and thus needs extra care and attention, but that does not mean we should not take them out. There is no harm in taking your babies out and letting them to breathe fresh air unless the weather conditions are extremely harsh. Taking your babies outdoor is also one of the great ways of building your baby’s immunity.
Myth 10: A baby should never be bathed if they have fever
Fact: Bathing the baby under minor cold or fever does not harm. But you should protect the baby from cold wind. In case of high fever, a sponge bath is ideal.
If you have been following any of these myths, it's time to mend the way. Stay connected with the real facts and knowledge so that no myth can spoil your or babies life! For any situation you should always go ahead and consult with your doctor.
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DISCLAIMER : MummaBabe is a network created to share personal experiences with its audiences. None of the recommendations of this channel are sponsored by any company or product. We are not medical professionals so please consult your doctor before taking any medication. As each baby is different recommendations on this channel may not work for you, and should not be considered as an excuse to not visit your doctor or consult a medical practitioner. You can contact us by sending us an email to n.das28@gmail.com
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