As new moms, women are often inundated with advice and tips from well-meaning friends and relatives, and oftentimes that advice directly contradicts what we hear from pediatricians and other parenting professionals. Needless to say, figuring out the best way to take care of your baby can be pretty confusing. Now, I will say that I don't always think pediatricians get it right–a mother's intuition is worth its weight in gold, and ultimately how you feel about a certain course of action is probably the most important factor. However, there are some parenting myths and old wives tales that needlessly cause a lot of worry for first-time moms. Here are five of them and why you shouldn't let them stress you out:
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The two-month rule. In a lot of cultures, it's common practice not to take newborns out in public until they are around two months old, mainly for fear of illness. Obviously, if your baby is born during cold and flu season, you'll want to be more cautious, but for the most part, it's no big deal. As long as you wash hands frequently and keep strangers at bay, there's little chance for your newbie to come in contact with any dangerous germs. Bonus points if you breastfeed, since your little one will inherit your immunities for the first six months.
Don't hold him too much. You absolutely cannot spoil a young baby–it's not developmentally possible. You should hold your baby as much as you please in the first couple of months, and if you would like your child to learn to play independently, you can start teaching them that skill at around two months. But never let anyone make your feel bad for holding your child–newborns and even toddlers need to establish a secure connection with their parents and touch is important in doing so.
They'll sleep when they're tired. In reality, a baby who just falls asleep, say sitting in a high chair in the middle of a meal, is actually passed the point of overtiredness, a point you'll want to avoid at all costs. As a new mom, you will quickly learn that it actually takes some effort to put a baby to sleep. Whether you choose to do it via rocking and cuddling or sleep training is more your speed, if you want your child to sleep you will have to help him, so don't be surprised when your new little one doesn't just magically drift off to sleep without any fuss at all.
Going outside without a hat causes colds. A cold is a virus, hat or no hat, if you come in contact with that virus, you have a chance of catching it. A hat doesn't even cover your mouth or nose, which is how a virus enters the system. Yes, newborns should wear a hat for the first month or so since they can't yet regulate their own body temperatures, but beyond that, a hat is only necessary for warmth during colder weather.
Rice cereal will help her sleep. Absolutely not! You should never, ever put rice cereal in a bottle regardless of what your abuela says. It's actually a choking hazard, since most babies younger than four to six months aren't really capable of managing thicker foods — one reason that solids should not be introduced before that age. Even once you start solids in earnest, you'll notice that it doesn't really affect sleeping habits. A baby has to be developmentally ready to sleep through the night, and that varies by child.
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