Babies don't sweat like adults, so they only need a bath every two or three days (unless after a major diaper "explosion!"). If this is part of your bedtime routine, it's perfectly acceptable to take a daily bath, then apply moisturizer.
1. The need for daily bathing for babies
Babies don't sweat like adults, so they only need a bath every two or three days (unless after a major diaper "explosion!"). If this is part of your bedtime routine, it's perfectly acceptable to take a daily bath, then apply moisturizer.
2. Babies sleep best in a quiet and dark room
Although some babies are indeed sensitive to noise and prefer little light, most do well with background noise and soft light. Also, if your little one gets used to being active while sleeping, they may fall asleep more easily in different situations.
3. Allowing your toddler to stand or jump on your lap can cause vertigo later on
Your child won't get stung by standing or jumping on you; that's just an old story. Plus, young babies are learning how to bear weight on their feet and find their center of gravity, so letting your child stand or jump is fun and developmental for them.
4. Listening to classical music will increase your baby's IQ
Music can enrich your little one's life, but there is no specific research to confirm that listening to classical music specifically will lead to significant improvements in brain abilities.
5. If you pick up your baby every time he cries, you will spoil him.
Babies under 4 months of age have few self-soothing strategies; they know how to suck to soothe themselves and like to be swaddled, but that's about it. Picking babies up when they cry helps them learn that parents will always be there to care for them.
6. Babies have to wake up at night to have a wet diaper changed.
Today's diapers are extremely absorbent, so there's nothing wrong with leaving your baby in a wet diaper overnight. However, if your baby has a full diaper and it seems to be irritating them, you should change it.
7. Do not apply sunscreen to a baby under 6 months of age
Although it's best to keep your toddler away from dangerous UV rays, you can and should apply sunscreen to your child if they're going to be in the sun. The risks of skin cancer outweigh the risks of a reaction.
But how should you apply that sunscreen? According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), a minimalist approach is best. "Apply sunscreen to small areas of the body, such as the face and hands, unless protective clothing and shade are available," the AAP writes. Always avoid the sun when possible. "Seek shade under a tree, umbrella, or stroller canopy."
8. All baby bottles for babies under 3 months of age should be sterilized
Yes, you should sterilize bottles when you first take them out of the package, but washing them with soap and water afterward is enough. (You can also put them in the dishwasher on a sanitizing cycle if you like.) Babies are exposed to far more bacteria than what would remain on a well-cleaned bottle.
9. The safest way to put a baby to sleep is on their stomach
The safest sleeping position for a baby is on their back. In the past, doctors worried that babies could choke on vomit if they weren't lying on their stomachs or sides, but research has actually linked these positions to higher risks.
10. Adding rice cereal to your baby's bottle will help him sleep
Wait to introduce solids until 4 to 6 months. Research shows that babies who are introduced to solids before 4 months of age actually sleep worse than those who are fed only formula, and there is also a link between early introduction of solids and obesity later in life.
11. It's critical to keep your baby on a strict feeding schedule
While it makes sense to have a schedule, it's usually better to eat on demand, especially in the first two months. After that, you may notice a regularity of eating every two or three hours. In the beginning, it's important to always look for hunger and fullness cues.
12. Babies need hard-soled shoes to protect their toes and keep their feet properly aligned.
Babies use their toes to grip surfaces they walk on, so they really should go shoeless indoors. To keep little feet safe outside, choose a shoe with good traction on the sole - shoes with hard soles can be too slippery.
13. Babies should go to the toilet at least once a day.
Parents often think their baby is constipated when they really aren't, says Dr. Andrew Adesman, chief of the department of child development and behavior at Schneider Children's Hospital in New York City. Newborns often go to the bathroom several times a day, but they may go as little as every three to four days by about 2 to 3 months of age, he says. If the poop is very hard and infrequent or you notice blood in the diaper, however, consult your pediatrician.
14. Touching a baby's soft spot can hurt their brain
The soft spot, or floater spot, at the front of your baby's head is a skin-covered opening in the skull that throbs and worries some parents. "There's a sense of vulnerability, but the brain is really well-protected," says Dr. Adesman. The front floater spot usually closes around age 1, while the smaller soft spot at the back of the head usually closes between 2 and 3 months.
15. The cold doesn't make babies sick.
Although your little one may need help regulating their internal temperature, cold weather alone won't make your child sick. Viruses and bacteria do.