Common Misconceptions About Baby Care

Prof. Dr. Nermin Tansuğ, Pediatrician at Liv Hospital, provides important information on common misconceptions about infant care.

Do not take the baby outdoors until 40 days of age

Keeping the baby and mother indoors for forty days is a traditional practice. In ancient times, this was likely observed to protect both mother and baby during their most vulnerable period from illness. Once the baby and mother have recovered and feeding intervals have become regular, they can go outdoors. They should be dressed according to weather conditions. Spending time in fresh air is always preferable. Closed, crowded environments such as shopping centers should be avoided. The baby should not be exposed to wind, and in excessive heat, outdoor time should be reduced. On sunny days, start with 10-15 minutes and gradually increase duration up to one hour. However, keeping a newborn outdoors for long periods, waiting in crowds for extended periods, or close contact with other people can make the baby ill. Because newborns are very sensitive. When the baby comes into contact with other people, the person holding the baby must not be ill, should wash their hands, and must be clean.

Do not bathe until the umbilical cord falls off

A newborn's umbilical cord naturally falls off between 5 and 10 days. If the cord remains dry, it falls off more quickly. For this reason, frequent dressing changes are not necessary. Wetting it during bathing both delays the cord from falling off and risks infection if bathing conditions are not appropriate. For this reason, bathing before the cord falls off is not recommended. However, if conditions are suitable, there is no harm in doing so. After bathing, the cord should be wiped with sterile gauze and left open to dry. If there is concern about washing, a sponge bath can be given instead. Or wash the head and bottom and wipe the body. If redness, discharge, foul odor, or bleeding is observed around the umbilical cord, a doctor should be consulted immediately.

Sugared water is good for jaundice

About 50 years ago, there was a belief that giving infants sugared water would prevent jaundice or make it milder. Later studies showed it had no benefit and was even harmful. Giving water from outside sources to a breast-fed baby reduces the benefits of breast milk. For this reason, giving even water to a baby receiving breast milk is not correct. Giving a substance that is harmful to adults to a baby should never be considered.

Dressing in yellow prevents jaundice

One of the superstitions from when the cause of jaundice was unknown. Yellow clothing or coverings placed over or on the baby's face have no effect on the appearance or elimination of bilirubin, the substance that causes jaundice resulting from the breakdown of red blood cells in the blood. However, yellow coverings or clothing can deceive our eyes. The baby's body or face appears more yellow.

Formula-fed babies are given water

When formula was first introduced, it had a higher concentration than breast milk. It was recommended to give water to formula-fed babies. However, in recent years, formulas have been greatly improved, and their composition and concentration now closely approximate breast milk. For this reason, water does not need to be given to babies fed formula, unless other supplementary foods have been introduced. However, in very hot months or if the baby has diarrhea, water can be given, but should not be forced if the baby refuses.

Give formula at night so everyone sleeps well

Because breast milk leaves the stomach more quickly, babies get hungry more often and want to nurse at more frequent intervals. In the early months, they wake and nurse frequently at night. It is not correct to give formula because the baby wakes frequently. Every food we give the baby other than breast milk reduces the baby's benefit from breast milk. Or it changes the bowel pattern and causes constipation. Because nursing from a bottle is easier, the baby may stop nursing from the mother. Let's wake frequently at night, but let our baby be fed healthily and grow healthily.

Give lemon water to a baby with hiccups

Hiccups occur from irritation of the diaphragm, the membrane that separates the chest cavity from the abdomen. Newborns have a small stomach capacity. When the stomach becomes full and stretches during nursing, the diaphragm is stimulated and hiccups can begin. Hiccups are not harmful and are a normal occurrence, especially in newborns. Resuming nursing or giving breast milk by spoon helps. Even a few drops can cause the baby to vomit.