New moms get bombarded with well-meaning advice, almost from the moment they announce their pregnancy. Some of it is great, such as take care of yourself, get prenatal exams, and eat nutritiously. Some of it, however, may be outdated. Science is ever-evolving, and what mothers did 40 years ago may not be the recommendations today. We compiled a short list for you.
Outdated Advice:
- Bathe your baby every day. Until they are moving around and playing in dirt, most babies do not get dirty or smelly the way older kids and adults do. If it soothes your baby or you to give her a warm sponge bath every night before bedtime, then do it, but it’s not necessary for hygiene. Most newborns probably only need a bath once or twice a week. The exception, of course, would be after a particularly bad diaper situation.
- Babies need absolute quiet to sleep. Not only is this incorrect, because just like adults, every baby is different, but also you want to train your baby to sleep when normal activity is going on around them. Place your baby near you during nap time so she can get really good at sleeping through noise.
- Picking up a crying baby will spoil them. This is very old advice and runs counter to every instinct we have. Follow your instincts. Hold your baby close during crying spells. This reassures her that you are there to comfort and soothe her whenever she needs you, and it will help her to grow up feeling secure and confident.
- The safest way to put an infant to sleep is on their stomachs. This was the advice 30 years ago, but we now know better. Babies are much safer on their backs, which is why at Bootheel Babies & Families, we follow the ABCs of safe sleep: Alone. On their Backs. In a Crib or on another firm surface.