9 tips from Soviet grandmothers that are out of date

So much so that doctors recommend forgetting them immediately.

Pediatricians believe that modern grandparents rely on their personal experience with children and often give advice to young parents who are outdated today and may even be unsafe.

1. If the baby is not swaddled, he will develop clubfoot.

In the past, swaddling was very common because parents believed it would help keep the baby’s legs straight and prevent clubfoot or bow-legged. However, doctors say that swaddling is harmful because it can lead to hip dysplasia. You can occasionally swaddle children with neurological disorders or severe colic to calm them down. But if the child falls asleep without problems, then there is no need to wrap him up.

2. In the house where there is a baby, it should be as warm as possible

In fact, this is not the case. Overheating is just as dangerous as hypothermia. It is recommended to keep the temperature in the nursery between 16 and 20 degrees Celsius. According to scientists, this temperature promotes sound sleep. In addition, in a cool room, the nasal mucosa does not dry out and it is easier to breathe.

And don’t be afraid of drafts! Doctor Komarovsky does not get tired of repeating: there is nothing dangerous in the movement of air. But if a child lies and suffocates in a tightly sealed room, this is very bad.

3. To calm the baby, you need to spread something sweet on the pacifier.

Many grandmothers advise dipping the pacifier in honey or jam to calm a crying baby, but pediatricians are against this method. Sweets are quite allergenic foods, and you never know how a baby’s body might react to them. In addition, if a child’s teeth have already begun to erupt, sweets can cause tooth decay, and honey can even cause botulism!

And by the way, the later your baby gets to know sweets, the easier it will be for you to introduce complementary foods. The bright taste of sugar will discourage him from trying healthy foods and spoil his taste for food.

4. The crib must have a pillow and blanket

In the past, moms have made mini copies of their beds. The child must have had a blanket and a tiny pillow. But doctors are already tired of repeating that there should not be any pillows, blankets or toys in the crib, as they can cause asphyxiation. If the room is cool, wear warm pajamas, but do not cover them with a blanket. A pillow is useless at all. Adults, by the way, do not always need it either.

5. The child should sleep on his stomach

At first glance, this seems very logical: parents put the child on his tummy so that he does not choke. However, doctors have found that it is more dangerous than putting children to sleep on their backs, as this position can lead to airway obstruction; in this position, strong pressure acts on the stomach and chest diaphragm; this pose can cause overheating. Therefore, experts recommend placing the baby on its back and turning its head to one side.

6. The child should sleep in complete silence

It is really difficult for an adult to fall asleep in a noisy environment. But for babies, noise only helps them sleep better. There is only one thing: it should be monotonous and not get louder. Children can sleep peacefully when mom is on the phone or running water in the bathroom. This is because he is used to the noise during his time in the womb. The sounds he hears there are comparable in volume to a construction hairdryer.

Some parents turn on white noise (a uniform background noise that does not carry any information, so after a while a person practically ceases to notice it, for example, the rustle of leaves, the noise of rain) so that their child falls asleep as soon as possible. In addition, thanks to the white noise, it will not wake up if you decide to vacuum the apartment or wash the dishes.

7. You need to feed the baby strictly by the hour

Grandmothers and some doctors recommend that you follow a strict regimen when feeding your baby. Once even strongly recommended. But then they decided that there was nothing useful in a strict schedule: it was very tiring for both the mother and the child, because the baby should eat when he is hungry, and not when the alarm clock rings. Therefore, now, in the case of breastfeeding, pediatricians advise to feed the baby at his request. But if the child is bottle-fed, then a certain scheme will have to be followed, claims Brightside.

8. Introduce complementary foods as early as possible

Young parents often hear that they should start giving egg yolk to a three month old baby, and oatmeal to a four month old. However, according to the recommendations of the World Health Organization, complementary foods should be introduced no earlier than the child is six months old. Therefore, forget all these “You sipped my borscht at three months,” like a bad dream.

9. Animal milk is healthier than mixtures

Many people believe that there are many harmful substances in the mixtures, and they prefer natural milk. But doctors are sure that this can be dangerous for the health of babies, but a balanced mixture is ideal even for babies who are breastfeeding. Animal milk is dangerous for several reasons: it contains many minerals that the baby’s kidneys may not be able to handle; there is not enough iron in it, which can lead to iron deficiency anemia; the required amount of vitamin C is also lacking; the proteins it contains can irritate the intestinal mucosa; the child may be allergic to such milk; the child may gain excess weight. This is why animal milk should only be started on a one-year-old baby.

Do you follow the advice of your grandmothers?

9 tips from Soviet grandmothers that are out of date