Popular Myths about Parenting and

PediatricsVincent Iannelli, MD

May 11. 2013http://pediatrics.about.com/cs/parentingadvice/a/parenting_myths.htm

Myth 1: A green or yellow runny nose means that your child has a sinus infection and needs antibiotics

• NOT TRUE• A sinus infection is commonly defined as having a green or yellow

runny nose that lasts for more than 10-14 days without improvement. Many other infections caused by viruses can also cause a green runny nose and will not respond to an antibiotic.• But many believe the myth that a green runny nose means a sinus

infection, which can lead to your child taking antibiotics unnecessarily.

Myth 2: A fever is bad for you

• Fever by itself is not harmful or dangerous, and is unlikely to cause brain damage or other problems• Fever is not a disease it is a symptom that can accompany many childhood

illnesses, especially infections• Impact depends on age of child, pattern, duration and severity and associated

signs and symptoms• How is your child acting if alert, active and playful, no difficulty breathing, eating

and sleeping well, or if the temperature comes down quickly with home treatments (and he is feeling well), then you don't necessarily need to call your doctor immediately• Old adage of "feed a cold, starve a fever" doesn't work if your child has a fever

and is hungry, let him eat

Myth 3: A fever is good for you

• While a fever is a sign that your body is fighting an infection, lowering the fever will not get rid of the infection faster. • You do not necessarily need to treat your child's fever, but in most

cases, fever can be treated as a comfort measure. • Keep in mind that treatment of a fever is usually to help your child

feel better, so if he has a fever, but doesn't feel bad, especially if the fever is low grade, then you do not need to treat the fever.

Myth 4: Teething causes fever, diarrhea, vomiting or diaper rashes• NOT TRUE• Teething may cause some fussiness and night wakenings in some children,

but if your child has other symptoms, especially a high fever, then you should look for another cause, such as an infection• In most children teething only causes increased drooling and a desire to

chew on hard things, but in some it does cause mild pain and irritability and the gums may become swollen and tender

- vigorously massage the area for a few minutes or let him chew on a smooth, hard teething ring - teething gels - treatment with acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain

Myth 5: You must boil your water before preparing your infant's bottle of formula

• Boiling the water when preparing infant formula was universally not recommended and was then thought to be unnecessary. In 1993, an outbreak of cyclosporiasis from contaminated water in Milwaukee prompted officials to again recommend that water be boiled when preparing infant formula.• You can use water out of the tap if water source is potable and bottles

can be washed in hot soapy water or in the dishwasher. • If you are not convinced that your water supply is safe or if you are

using well water, then you should boil the water for at least 5 minutes before preparing formula.

Myth 6: Giving your infant cereal will help him to sleep through the night

• NOT TRUE• When your child begins to sleep through the night has more to do

with his development and having a good bedtime routine where he learns to fall asleep on his own, and not on how hungry or full he is. • Start solids between 4-6 months old - More developmentally ready - Can swallow solids correctly so there’s less choking - Can offer you signals when they are full, such as turning away or showing disinterest

Myth 7: Colic is caused by ….

• Thought to be from abdominal pain, formula allergies, the iron in infant formula or gas• Neurodevelopmentally, normal babies have a fussy period toward the end of the

day starting from 2-3 weeks old babies with colic may be more sensitive to this normal everyday stimulation• Colic is a common problem, affecting 10-25% of all newborns• Inconsolable crying in a healthy and well-fed infant for 3 straight hours for 3

straight days for at least 1 week and finally resolves on its own by 3-4 months• Tips to help deal with colic reassurance of parents, comfort baby thru

swaddling, cuddling, rhythmic rocking, going for a walk or ride, warm baths, singing, rhythmic sounds, massages, or using a pacifier, windup swing or vibrating chair

Myth 8: Your child needs a daily multi-vitamin• NOT TRUE• Generally not necessary for most children with an average diet, even if your child

is a picky eater • Who needs it? - Children with a poor or restricted diet, liver disease or other chronic medical problems, especially those that lead to fat malabsorption - Preterm infants and children who are exclusively breastfed, with either very dark skin or limited exposure to sunlight, may also need vitamin D supplements - Children may need fluoride supplements if they do not drink fluoridated water• Better to try and reach the child’s daily requirements or recommended daily

allowance by providing him with a well balanced diet Food Guide Pyramid

Myth 9: A mobile infant walker will help your child learn to walk faster• NOT TRUE• In general, you should not use a mobile baby walker, as it will not help

your child learn to walk faster and they can be dangerous if they make your child too mobile• Stationary walkers are much safer• Allow your child to explore in a child-proofed environment and away

from stairs, and that your child is supervised at all times

Myth 10: You should/shouldn't let your children sleep in your bed• NO definite right or wrong ways to put your child to sleep• Generally not good to let child sleep in your bed: - if it is a struggle to put your child to bed - if he gets overly frustrated in the process - if child strongly resists being put to bed - if he is waking up so much that he or other family members end up not getting adequate sleep

Myth 11: You shouldn't give milk or other dairy products to your child when he is sick because it will increase mucus production or make it thicker

• NOT TRUE unless your child has a milk allergy• When your child is sick, you can let him eat his usual diet as tolerated

Myth 12: You can tell if a child has strep throat just by looking at him• NOT TRUE • While most parents are worried about strep throat when their child

has a throat infection (tonsillitis), there are also many viruses that cause infections that look very similar to strep• Best to be seen by physician so child can be tested for strep throat

Myth 13: You should begin potty training when your child is _______ months old

• Most children show signs of readiness to begin potty training between 18 months- 3 years of age but there’s NO set time at which you should begin training • Potty training has more to do

with your child's developmental and physical readiness, and the time when this occurs varies in different children

• Signs that your child is ready to begin potty training:

- staying dry for at least 2 hours at a time - having regular bowel movements - being able to follow simple instructions - being uncomfortable with dirty diapers and wanting them to be changed - asking to use the potty chair or toilet - asking to wear regular underwear

Myth 14: Punishment and discipline are the same thing• Discipline is not the same as punishment• Discipline has to do more with teaching, and involves teaching your child

right from wrong, how to respect the rights of others, which behaviors are acceptable and which are not, with a goal of helping to develop a child who feels secure and loved, is self-confident, self-disciplined and knows how to control his impulses, and who does not get overly frustrated with the normal stresses of everyday life• How you behave when disciplining your child will help to determine how

your child is going to behave or misbehave in the future• Be consistent in your methods of discipline and how you punish your

child

Myth 15: If your child is doing badly in school and he has a short attention span and is easily distractable, then he has Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

• Reasons for teens to underperform at school

- lack of motivation to do well - problems at home or with peers, poor work habits or study skills - emotional and behavior problems - learning disabilities (such as dyslexia) and behavioural disorders (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder), mental retardation or below average intelligence - other medical problems, including anxiety and depression

• Thorough evaluation by an experienced professional is usually needed to correctly diagnose children with complex problems

• Schedule a meeting with the teacher to discuss the problem, talk with the school psychologist or counselor or your Pediatrician

• Appropriate treatment needed so teen can perform up to her full potential and to prevent the development of problems with low self-esteem, behavior problems and depression

Myth 16: Children and adolescents don't get depressed, and if they do, then they don't need treatment• Most common symptoms of

depression in children and adolescents were sadness, inability to feel pleasure, irritability, fatigue, insomnia, lack of self-esteem, and social withdrawal

• Children suffer from physical symptoms (e.g., stomach aches and headaches), hallucinations, agitation, and extreme fears

• Adolescents showed more despairing thoughts, weight changes, and excessive daytime sleepiness

• Depression in children can, if untreated, affect school performance and learning, social interactions and development of normal peer relationships, self-esteem and life skill acquisition, parent-child relations and a child's sense of bonding and trust, can lead to substance abuse, disruptive behaviors, violence and aggression, legal troubles, and even suicide

• AAP: suicide is the 3rd leading cause of death among children and adolescents, just behind accidents and violence

Myth 17: You should force your picky eater to finish his dinner• NOT TRUE• Forcing your child to eat when he isn't hungry is a good way to

encourage feeding problems in the future.• Best way to prevent feeding problems is to teach your children to feed

himself as early as possible, provide them with healthy choices and allow experimentation• Common mistakes: allowing them to drink too much milk or juice,

forcing them to eat even when not hungry, or forcing them to eat foods that they don't want

Myth 18: Physical punishment is an effective discipline technique

• You should avoid physical punishment• Spanking has never been shown to be more effective than other

forms of discipline and it will likely make your child more aggressive and angry and teach him that is sometimes acceptable to hit others

Myth 19: You should just observe your child with speech or motor delays because he will probably eventually grow out of it• If you think that your child is not meeting his normal speech or

language developmental milestones, if he is at high risk of developing a hearing problem, or has school performance problems, then it is very important that his hearing be formally tested by a professional• Do a formal hearing test and developmental assessment by their

Pediatrician and refer to an early childhood intervention program (for children under 3) so treatments can be initiated by a psychologist (if indicated) and/or a speech therapist/pathologist• Early diagnosis is the key so that appropriate management can be

initiated soon

Myth 20: You should always or your should never __________ • There are very few things that you should always or you should never

do when taking care of your child• In general, establish a good connection with your child and get

feedback from the care you give you • If your methods or techniques aren't working, then try something else

or get some professional help