myth about babies

Myth 18: Mothers who hold their babies too much will spoil them.

Fact: Babies who are held often cry fewer hours a day and exhibit more security as they mature.

Anisfeld, E. et al. Does infant carrying promote attachment? An experimental study of the effects of increased physical contact on the development of attachment. Child Dev 1990; 61:1617-27.

Barr, K. and Elias M. Nursing interval and maternal responsivity: effect on early infant crying. Pediatrics 1988 81:529-36.

Bowlby, J. Attachment and Loss: Attachment, vol 1. New York: Basic Books, 1969; 178, 208, 240.

Heller, S. The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact with Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development. New York: Henry Holt, 1997;41-53, 204-21.

Hunziker U. and Barr R. Increased carrying reduces infant crying: a randomized controlled trial Pediatrics 1986; 77:641.

Matas, L., Arend, R., Sroufe, L. Continuity of adaptation in the second year: the relationship between quality of attachment and later competence. Child Dev 1978; 49:547-56.

Myth 19: It is important that other family members get to feed baby so that they can bond, too.

Fact: Feeding is not the only method by which other family members can bond with the baby; holding, cuddling, bathing and playing with the infant are all important to his growth, development and attachment to others.

Heller, S. The Vital Touch: How Intimate Contact with Your Baby Leads to Happier, Healthier Development. New York: Henry Holt, 1997;54-55, 60-61.

Myth 20: Child-directed feeding (nursing on demand) has a negative impact on the husband/wife relationship.

Fact: Mature parents realize that a newborn's needs are very intense but also diminish over time. In fact, the teamwork of nurturing a newborn can actually bring a couple closer as they develop parenting skills together.

Bocar, D., Moore, K. Acquiring the parental role: a theoretical perspective. LLLI Lactation Consultant Series. Unit 16. Garden City Park, New York: Avery, 1987.

Sears, W. BECOMING A FATHER. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI 1986; 29-50,119-29.

Myth 24: Nursing a baby after 12 months is of little value because the quality of breast milk begins to decline after six months.

Fact: The composition of human milk changes to meet the changing needs of baby as he matures. Even when baby is able to take solids, human milk is the primary source of nutrition during the first year. It becomes a supplement to solids during the second year. In addition, it takes between two and six years for a child's immune system to fully mature. Human milk continues to complement and boost the immune system for as long as it is offered.

American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement on Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics 1997; 100(6):1035-39.

Goldman, A. Immunologic components in human milk during the second year of lactation. Acta Paediatr Scand 1983; 72:461-62.

Gulick, E. The effects of breastfeeding on toddler health. Ped Nursing1986; 12:51-54.

Innocenti Declaration on the protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding. Ecology of Food and Nutrition 1991; 26:271-73.

Mohrbacher, N., Stock, J. BREASTFEEDING ANSWER BOOK. Schaumburg, Illinois: LLLI, 1997; 164-68.

Saarinen, U. Prolonged breastfeeding as prophylaxis for recurrent Otitis media. Acta Paediatr Scand 1982; 71:567-71.

we need have evidence! hence i found one website where they actually back-up the myths with journals! how great is that! =)

ive elected a few myths which are very common and they were proposed to me before