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14 Surprising Myths About Parenthood
Kids are undersize adults who are perfectly capable of holding down a job. Children should be seen and not heard. That's probably what you would have believed if you'd raised a family 100 years ago. Today, of course, you know such ideas are utter nonsense. So why are you still convinced that sugar makes your preschooler bounce off the walls? Or that bribing your child makes you a bad parent? Because you're no more immune than your Victorian ancestors were to conventional wisdom that's tossed at you by friends, family, and the media. To help you sort facts from fiction, we've taken a look at some myths that circulate widely among today's parents. Here, an update.
Myth: You'll spoil your baby if you pick him up whenever he cries.Truth: You can't spoil a newborn. Period. If your baby calms down when you pick him up, he needed to be picked up. But more important, he has to gain confidence that you will respond to his needs, says Maurice J. Elias, Ph.D., author of Emotionally Intelligent Parenting (Three Rivers Press). In fact, during the first six months of life, that's a baby's primary job. "The critical task at this stage is developing a sense of trust that the world will take care of him," Dr. Elias says. "If you're crying or screaming and no one comes to pick you up, you don't develop that trust." After the baby is about 6 months old, Dr. Elias adds, your job is to pull back a bit and let him figure out that he can survive -- for a few minutes, at least -- without someone rushing to his side. Don't worry; he may holler, but by then, deep down, he knows you'll be back.
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It strikes me as strange and unprofessional that many of these "myths" are discounted by the opinion of a single psychologist or else very little tangible evidence whatsoever. These are not dis-proven myths; they are common beliefs that might not necessarily be gospel. It would be responsible to present them as such so that parents can take it upon themselves to research and make a decision, rather than take a single flimsy argument for truth.
10/18/2011 12:49:04 PM Report AbuseFunny that you perpetuate the myth that bicycle helmets protect against 80% of head injuries. It's at best 10% of a specific subset of head injuries. This assumes the head hits straight on and at low speed. At the same time they may increase the chances of sustaining serious neck injuries and rotational injuries to the brain if the head impacts at an angle. Use helmets if you want, but don't overstate their protective benefits.
9/23/2011 06:45:57 AM Report AbuseActually, I do not get the "women look beautiful when they are pregnant" negative response. I think plenty of women, who are not supermodels, look fantastic pregnant. One lady I worked with was sick as a dog her entire pregnancy and she still looked lovely and glowed. Her secret (I use it now that I am pregnant), 8 glasses of water a day (Not juice or soda, but water.).
5/17/2011 01:44:47 PM Report Abusewell being only 4 in a half months pregnant i don`t believe i am beautiful in anyway or do i plan to get that way but my fiance keeps telling me i am the most beautiful thing he has ever seen. there is no way that you can spoil a child my mother use to hold me all the time. my parents fought in font of me all my life and it never bothered me a bit. i don`t know where the stupid myths came from but i`v learned you raise your child on how you want them to act not how society tells you.
12/28/2010 12:56:22 PM Report AbuseI certainly didn't look beautiful pregnant...my gums bled, I got bad acne, I swelled... And it's true that you CANNOT spoil a newborn...that's common sense!!! The whole POINT of the baby's cries are to meet their needs b/c they can't meet them themselves!!!! It makes me so sad that people still believe that you could spoil a newborn...I can't imagine just leaving my newborn sitting there crying...it would break my heart.
11/10/2010 01:42:27 PM Report Abuseahaha well my feet didnt grow with my first pregnancy. im a 5.5 size nd if they do grow it wont be to bad.. i can never find shoes my size. most of the ones i own are 6 nd they fit loose.. maybe now i can wear all my shoes and do more shoe shopping :)
9/28/2010 07:24:57 PM Report AbuseWomen do look beautiful pregnant! That's really insulting to say it's a myth. When I see pregnant women in the store, I automatically think "Aww...she's so cute." And I know plenty of men who think pregnant women are super hot. Sure, maybe when you're pushing the 40 week mark, you may be not be looking your best, but for most of the pregnancy, despite the awful symptoms, women are beautiful, and not just to the subjective observer. I'm 18 weeks, and I've never felt more beautiful.
8/24/2010 11:12:21 AM Report AbuseYou cannot spoil a newborn for the simple fact that they don't have a brain capacity for understanding cause and effect. Regardless of what tylinds says. I practice attachment parenting and if my baby is crying he gets picked up, because in the first few months their wants are their NEEDS. I know many attachment parents with grown children, all of whom are respectful and independent.
5/26/2010 07:28:49 PM Report Abusefirst preg I went from 7.5 to 8.5 and then the second one I went to 9.5 almost... and none of my old shoes fit me.. so yes
5/26/2010 04:01:46 PM Report Abusemy feet went up 1/2 size with each baby and never went back down....
5/26/2010 10:54:36 AM Report AbuseSorry, but I do NOT believe that you can't spoil a newborn..I have 2 kids and both learned VERY quickly (in the first month) that if I cry, they'll pick me up and then grew to cry when there WEREN'T in someone's arms...I don't believe a baby, newborn or not, needs to be held every single time they cry. My kids weren't held every second they made a noise and they've grown up very well adjusted and happy.
5/26/2010 10:32:45 AM Report Abusemy feet grew, or rather swelled, to a size 9! im normally a 7.5. so to help the situation and my wallet i practicall wore flipflops my entire preg
1/29/2010 08:59:05 AM Report AbuseMine grew from a size 7 to a size 8, no 7.5 shoes fit... so it is possible.
1/25/2010 10:57:09 AM Report Abuse