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Parenthood is always interesting. With the new experiences and challenges that enable you and your little one to grow and learn from each other, parenting a baby, especially newborns, can be a fascinating and overwhelming experience. First-time parents often find themselves in one predicament or another when trying to provide for the needs of their little one. But figuring out what they want and when they want it is tricky when you can’t communicate with your baby. Not to mention that the endless stream of information and advice coming from self-help parenting books, parenting hacks on the internet, old wives ‘ tales passed down from your family members, and random advice offered by peers and friends make it that much harder to decipher what is true and what is not in terms of how to care for your little bundle of joy.
So, we are here to make things easy for you by addressing 5 baby myths that you should not fall prey to:
1. Myth: Once Your Baby Is 3-Months-Old, They Will Sleep Through The Night
I have some bad news for sleep-deprived parents. Unfortunately, this one is too good to be true. Getting your 8 hours of uninterrupted sleep will have to wait longer. Your baby will still get up every 2 to 3 hours at this age as they are not developmentally able to sleep for long periods at one shot. However, your baby will sleep around 16 to 20 hours a day. So, taking a nap when your baby goes down is your best chance to catch up on your sleep. As your baby grows, they will be able to nap for longer periods. Around the 4 to 6-month mark, babies get a sense of the night and day and may sleep for 6 to 8 hours at a stretch, but it is not until 9 months that your baby will finally sleep through the majority of the night.
2. Myth: Starting Solid Food Early Ensures That Your Baby Sleeps Through The Night
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This is an old wives’ tale that is simply not true. Most parents believe that feeding their baby solids early on will help them feel fuller during the night, ensuring that they sleep through the night, but this is not the case. In fact, feeding your baby solid foods too early on can make them fussy and harder to put down for a nap as they are uncomfortable. Eating solid foods at such a young age does not sit well with most babies. This is because their gut and digestive systems are not yet developed enough to handle solids, which can upset their little bellies. Not to mention that their kidneys cannot deal with anything but breastmilk or certain formulas. In addition, your baby is tiny and delicate, and an excessive amount of food can lead to excess weight gain and several other health problems. Instead, breastfeed your baby for at least the first six months as often as possible. This has numerous benefits for both you and the baby. Besides, babies go down easily after a good feed.
3. Myth: Carrying Around Your Baby Too Much Can Spoil Them
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On the contrary, responding to your baby’s needs results in a baby who is not fussy and is much easier to calm down and discipline later on. They are also those children that go on to become more independent and explorative. Holding your baby will help you develop a healthy and loving bond that will enable them to grow and learn about themselves and their surroundings in a safe environment. It has no negative effects. There are many countries where babies are carried throughout the day, and it is completely normal.
4. Myth: Newborns Can Only See Shadows
Infants may be farsighted, but they can follow the arc of an object for 30 degrees from birth. This quickly increases to 180 degrees in only a matter of 10 weeks. Fixing simple black and white paintings at your baby’s eye level will encourage them to stare at a specific point, which is good exercise for them. You will find that a baby’s favorite thing to look at is their mother’s face. And, yes, they see you, not an outline or a shadow.
5. Myth: Your Baby Cannot Tell The Difference Between Their Mother And Another Person
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Nothing can be more untrue! A baby can recognize their mother’s face and smell. They will often turn to root at their own mother’s breast. A baby’s hearing is well-developed while in the womb, so they are well aware of their mother’s voice. Patterns of doing things like household chores and caring for siblings are all things that they can recognize. They will be able to tell the difference between anyone else and their mother due to familiarity. Still, they may not create a fuss when handed to someone else as their instinct for stranger danger and separation anxiety has not kicked in yet. However, it will happen once they reach 8 months of age, so there is no need to worry.
Catering to your baby’s needs can be stressful and odd, but it will get easier to understand and realize what works best for you and your baby over time. In the meantime, try not to fall prey to these old myths!
