New parents have a lot to take in. Once their baby is born, many aspects of their lives change, including their daily routine, household dynamics, and overall lifestyle. Having a constant overload of information from physicians, loved ones, books, the internet, and social media can also feel overwhelming. You’re sifting through so much information at your fingertips, like what you can eat while breastfeeding, what your baby can eat or drink, and things your baby does that are and aren’t “normal.” Since it can be tough to discern truth from myth, we’re breaking down common baby myths to help you determine what advice you can ignore.
As parents learn to navigate their new roles, it’s helpful to know which beliefs and tips aren’t actually true. To help you out, check out these 20 myths about babies and why they’re false:
20 Myths About Babies
Let’s clear up some of the most common baby myths new parents still hear today.
1. Myth: All Babies Need To Be Burped After Feeding
While a burp may help a fussy baby, you don’t always have to burp a baby after every feed. A bottle-fed baby sometimes swallows too much air while feeding or crying and can be fussy due to pent-up gas in their belly. And in that case, a burp or passing gas will usually help.1 But other times, especially if a baby is content and asleep after a good feed, they may not need to burp. Bottle-fed and/or formula-fed babies may need to burp more often than breastfed babies, but each one is different.2
So, learn to listen to your baby’s cues — if they’re wiggly and scrunching their face after a feed, go ahead and try to burp them. If they’re relaxed and asleep, you can likely forgo the effort of waking them up and trying to get them back to sleep.
2. Myth: A Pacifier Is Bad for Breastfeeding
Whether you introduce pacifiers to babies at birth or within two weeks, using a pacifier doesn’t affect breastfeeding consistency and duration. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has even found a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) in babies who use a pacifier at bedtime.3,4 As long as you introduce the pacifier correctly, it’s not something you need to feel guilty about letting your baby use.
3. Myth: Babies Can’t See
While a newborn’s vision isn’t the best, the notion that babies can’t see is a myth. According to the American Optometric Association (AOA), babies can’t differentiate contrast at birth because they can’t move their eyes between two objects. Their eyes often cross, which is normal in the first couple of months of life. At birth, they’re best at focusing on things 8 to 10 inches from their face.5
Within the first months, a baby’s eyes will start to work together, and their vision will improve rapidly. This is where hand-eye coordination develops, and their eyes can track movements followed by a reach with their hands. Their eyes can focus on a parent’s face or on nearby people. However, if you feel that your baby’s vision is impaired, it’s best to consult your pediatrician.5
4. Myth: Babies Can’t Hear
Despite common misconceptions, babies can hear as early as in the womb!6,30 The ears form about five weeks after conception, and although a baby’s responses to external sounds are delayed, they can hear them.30 One study found that babies will only begin to respond consistently to external sounds at 20 to 22 weeks. A fetus can discern various voices and distinct syllables in the later stages of pregnancy.6 At birth, a baby can readily identify their mom’s voice, their mom’s native language, and music that was listened to in the last 10 weeks of pregnancy.7
5. Myth: You’ll Spoil Your Baby if You Pick Them up When They Cry
Many newbie parents often hear that ignoring a baby’s cry is okay and sometimes necessary. But will it do more harm than good? J. Kevin Nugent, a child psychologist and director of the Brazelton Institute at Boston Children’s Hospital, believes you’re meeting your child’s needs when responding to their cues. A baby cries approximately three hours a day in the first three months because there’s no other form of communication. These cries mean they’re hungry, tired, lonely, or uncomfortable.29 Furthermore, Dr. Barbara Howard, assistant professor of pediatrics at Johns Hopkins University, terms a spoiled child as one who cries as a form of manipulation, which babies haven’t learned until about month nine.29
6. Myth: Baby’s First Smiles Aren’t Related to Gas
We hate to break it to you, Mom and Dad, but those newborn smiles are from farts. Babies smile in the first two months in response to an internal cue, such as gas. It’s not until the end of the second month that a baby begins smiling socially. And a social smile is different than one from gas — they may feel happy and loved when someone smiles at them, and then they start to return the smile.8,31
7. Myth: Breastfeeding Moms Can Only Eat Bland Food
Breastfeeding moms should eat a varied diet and listen to their own hunger and thirst.32 It’s true that the taste of the breast milk will reflect what you’ve recently eaten, but this can help your baby get used to your family’s food preferences.33,34,35,36 Fussiness is rarely caused by something in the maternal diet.37
8. Myth: Newborns Should Stay Inside
Of course, this depends on the outing you have in mind. Medical experts recommend avoiding crowded places until a baby is a few months old. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t take your baby outside for a stroll to enjoy the fresh air (as long as you dress them for the cold weather). And when it’s time for your bundle of joy to meet family and friends, ensure that people wash their hands before holding, touching, or feeding your newborn.10,38
9. Myth: Adding Rice Cereal to Baby’s Bedtime Bottle Helps Them Sleep Longer
A study of 106 infants examined babies who were and weren’t given cereal at bedtime. Researchers found no significant trend or consistent tendency for one group to have a higher proportion of sleep than the other. However, neither the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) nor the AAP recommends feeding your baby rice cereal, as it may increase the risk of choking.11,12,13
10. Myth: Babies Should Be Given Water
According to the AAP, babies under 6 months shouldn’t drink water because it can make them unwell and potentially deplete their nutritional needs. Giving a baby water or mixing too much water into their formula can result in a smaller consumption of breast milk or formula, which is very dangerous.28 Once your little one is 6 months old, you can add a small quantity of water to their diet.39 You can ask your pediatrician for specifics on how much water to offer your baby based on their age.
11. Myth: Babies Are Born With the Same Number of Bones as Adults
As adults, we have 206 bones that provide our bodies’ structure, allow us to move, protect our organs, and perform other functions. At birth, a newborn has around 300 bones. It may sound bizarre, but a baby’s bones are made entirely from cartilage. This cartilage is soft and flexible, and as the baby grows, the cartilage fuses and becomes bone.14
12. Myth: Everyone Falls in Love With Their Baby Instantly
It’s easy to think that the birth of your baby will bring you an immense connection and bond. Yet, this isn’t the case for everyone — and that’s okay. Some moms experience the “baby blues,” which can bring on distress, anxiety, and sadness. Others can suffer from postpartum depression, which also interferes with bonding. However, according to the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), many moms report gradually bonding with their baby over the first year of their life.15 You’re getting to know a whole new human being, after all!
13. Myth: Teething Can Cause a Fever
If your baby’s little bunnies have started to show and they’re running a fever, it’s likely a sign of a cold, rather than a result of teething.22,40,41 Teething can raise your baby’s body temperature slightly, but if it surpasses 100.4 degrees, they may need medical attention.40,41 Teething symptoms typically include fussiness, crankiness, drooling, and bouts of crying.22
14. Myth: Babies Have Kneecaps
At birth, babies technically don’t have fully formed kneecaps. However, they are born with pieces of cartilage that eventually become the bony kneecap. This process, in which the cartilage turns into bone (called ossification), happens around ages 2 to 6.23,42
15. Myth: Babies Need a Bath Daily
You can cross this off your daily to-do list because it’s also a myth! Newborns have sensitive skin that contains a protective layer, natural oils, and normal healthy bacteria. If they’re over-bathed with soaps or cleansers, babies can experience dry, itchy, and irritated skin.24,43
According to the Mayo Clinic, you should consider washing your newborn no more than three times a week. When it is time for their bath, the best way to do it is with warm water that’s around 100 degrees Fahrenheit (or 38 degrees Celsius) and a washcloth. For parents who prefer to use baby shampoo and soap, choose fragrance-free options that keep your infant’s skin supple and irritation-free.25
16. Myth: Listening to Classical Music Raises a Baby’s IQ
While it would be fantastic if music could make your baby smarter, this statement is sadly a myth. A 1999 study on college students (not babies!) found an increase in abstract reasoning after listening to Mozart’s music. Unfortunately, the analysis proved that this effect was only a temporary boost.16 To help increase your baby’s intelligence, you can instead turn to educational books, foods with healthy fats that encourage brain development, and developmental toys.
17. Myth: Babies Need To Poop Once a Day
Every baby has a different frequency for how often they poop. So, don’t become dismayed if your baby is pooping less than you think they should, as some poop every two to three days. There’s also a higher frequency of poop in breastfed infants versus formula-fed infants.17
18. Myth: Being Cold Makes Babies Sick
Exposure to cold weather doesn’t necessarily equate to your baby catching a cold. A “cold,” also called a viral upper respiratory infection, is an illness caused by a virus.27 Although being cold doesn’t give them a cold, it’s still recommended to dress them comfortably for this type of weather. The guideline is typically to dress in layers — the number of layers that you’re wearing plus one.26
19. Myth: Walkers Are Great for Babies
The AAP is working to ban the sale of baby walkers, as Canada has already done, because they’re actually a hazard. A 2018 study examined U.S. emergency department visits among children under 15 months old and found that more than 230,000 incidents were related to walkers. Baby walkers are also known for delaying the learning-to-walk process since learning is solely based on support from the ability to pull, stand, and balance to take steps.18,19
20. Myth: Newborns Are Bottom-Heavy
A quarter of a baby’s weight comes from their head, which also takes up one-quarter to one-third of their total body length. A baby’s head also grows the fastest during the first four months due to rapid brain growth. This marks a crucial milestone for sitting up and supporting the head.20,21,44
The Bottom Line
The next time you get advice about your baby from a family member or close friend, remember that it’s best to take it lightly at the moment and research it later to confirm its accuracy. While they likely have good intentions, their advice might only be true anecdotally, or it could be a common myth. If you’re still uncertain about a particular topic, talk to your physician. They can advise you and better inform you about your baby’s well-being.
At the end of the day, every baby is different. Understanding the facts can help you tune out the noise and trust your instincts as a parent.