Never Wake Up A Sleeping Baby, And Other Health-Related Myths Debunked By A Pediatrician

Editor’s Note: This article is intended for information purposes only. It does not substitute a doctor. It is vital to always consult a medically trained professional for advice that suits your needs best.

Parenthood, much like a lot like life in general, doesn't come with a manual. That's why no matter how many books you read and websites you visit even while still waiting for the arrival your baby, you'll never have all the answers. Worse, you might fall in the trap of disinformation, such as health-related myths.

Dr. Joey Cuayo- Estanislao, a pediatrician and member of the Smart Parenting Board of Experts, sets the record straight on some of the popular concerns especially by new moms and dads.

Myth #1: Never wake a sleeping baby.

"Your newborn should be waking up every 3 to 4 hours to feed," says Dr. Cuayo-Estanislao, "and we do recommend waking baby up to feed, especially while they haven’t yet established a more regular feeding schedule."

The pediatrician, who's also called Doc Joey, adds, "For older babies, especially as their sleep cycle matures, we do want to make sure they’re better able to have more sound sleep at night, and that would usually entail that their naps during the day are not too long for their age.

Read here on the baby sleep guide.

Myth #2: Bouncing babies causes bow legs.

"Your child won't become bowlegged when you prop them up to standing or by bouncing them," says Doc Joey about this health-related myth.

"In fact," she points out, "these positions can help your baby learn how to bear weight on their legs and even find their center of gravity while in a standing position. So the activity can be fun for your baby and developmentally stimulating for them."

Doc Joey also points out that "babies up to 24 months are actually normally bowlegged." Meaning, she explains, "they have a wider gait and they kinda waddle when they walk." That is, she clarifies, "perfectly normal."

By around 18 to 24 months, says Doc Joey, babies usually outgrow being bowlegged as their legs become more straight or aligned.

But here's a reminder: "If your child’s bowlegged-ness is unusually prominent or persists beyond 2 years old, it would be good to talk to your pediatrician for evaluation."

Doc Joey has this to say about baby walkers and baby bouncers: "We do not recommend those."

She goes on explaining that "baby bouncers can cause hip dysplasia," which is a condition or abnormality "where the hips become misaligned." Baby walkers, on the other hand, "can be dangerous for babies."

Doc Joey reiterates that she and her fellow pediatricians "no longer recommend" getting one of those baby walkers and bouncers for your child.

Read here for tips when baby just wants to be carried all the time.

Myth #3: Certain toys make babies smarter.

"This is neither true nor false," says Doc Joey. She then elucidates, "Raising smart, creative children who have a love for learning is really all about giving them that space and the opportunities to learn, play and discover the world around them."

The pediatrician makes it clear that she "definitely would not recommend buying the newer smart toys that market themselves as helping kids become smarter or more technologically adept."

Instead, she recommends buying your kids traditional toys. These include construction or building block toys, kitchen sets, and jigsaw/solving puzzles. (Read here about  educational toys.)

She explains, "Basically these toys will allow your child to explore the toys, how they work, gives them space to be creative, gives them space to practice their different skills as well as their critical thinking."

She adds that open-ended toys, or those that can be used in different ways, allow kids "to have room to move, grow, and learn." On the other hand, close-ended toys, such as your puzzles, give kids "the goal-directedness especially as they prepare for school."

The pediatrician also reminds parents to "avoid hovering and teaching your kids how to play with the toy the right way."

Watch Doc Joey debunks the top three health-related myths in this video:

Read here the top three early childhood education myths debunked by an educator.

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