X
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
theAsianparent Philippines Logo
EnglishFilipino
Product GuideSign in
  • Building a BakuNation
  • Becoming a Parent
    • Trying to Conceive
    • Pregnancy
    • Delivery
    • Losing a Baby
    • Project Sidekicks
  • Ages & Stages
    • Baby
    • Toddler Years
    • Preschool Age
    • Kids
    • Preteen & Teen
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • News
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Health & Wellness
    • Diseases & Injuries
    • Allergies & Conditions
    • Vaccinations
  • Education
    • Preschool
    • K-12
    • Special Education Needs
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Celebrities
    • Contests & Promotions
    • Home
    • Travel and Leisure
    • Fashion
    • Fitness
    • Wellness
    • Money
  • Become a VIP
  • COVID-19
  • Press Room
  • TAP Recommends
  • Shopping
  • Awards
    • Parents' Choice Awards 2023

Healthy kids: Kiddie health myths that moms can ignore!

7 min read

family

Healthy kids: Kiddie health myths that moms can ignore!

People always have something to say about something, your child's health is no exception. From hand-me-down pieces of advice from your great grandmother to straight up old wives tales, it's best to know what's fact from myth. Here are some popular kids health myths that have scientifically been debunked:

1. The cold weather or going out with wet hair will give my child a cold!

While being exposed to cold weather may give one the chills and make them feel uncomfortable, it is not the reason behind your child’s cold. According to D.J. Verret, MD, an otolaryngologist from Texas, going outdoors may actually be one of the best things you can do to prevent catching a cold. Why? Because people tend to stay indoors to keep warm therefore making them more susceptible to colds which are caused by viruses or bacteria.

Author of "The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds & Flu”, Neil Schachter, M.D, says that a sneeze or a cough brings forth viral-rich fluids from your airways making it easy for germs to spread. To protect your baby or child from catching a cold, make sure that they watch their hands often.

2. Don't kiss your baby if you have a cold

According to Neil Schachter, M.D., author of "The Good Doctor's Guide to Colds & Flu, there is nothing wrong with giving your child a peck on the lips even if you have a cold. The saliva hanging out in your mouth harbors very little cold virus -- so it's surprisingly hard to pass the illness through kissing. The best way to keep your baby from catching your cold: Wash your hands often.

3. It’s okay for your baby to sleep on his side!

Babies placed on their stomachs or sides to sleep may have more difficulty breathing than those placed on their backs. This is because when infants sleep tummy-down, they’re more likely to overheat, breathe incorrectly, and rebreathe carbon dioxide air they’ve exhaled, which lacks oxygen. If you’re worried about your baby developing a flat spot on her head after too much back time, you can always give your baby adequate amounts of tummy time while she’s awake and under your watchful eye.

Healthy kids: Kiddie health myths that moms can ignore!

4. If you swallow your gum, it'll take 7 years to digest!

According to Dr. Richard Desi, a gastroenterologist from the Institute for Digestive Health and Liver Disease at Mercy Hospital in Baltimore, your swallowed chewing gum will not stick to your digestive tract. "This is certainly a myth. A portion of gum is indigestible, and like any indigestible substance that is consumed, it will simply pass through the gastrointestinal tract and be evacuated."

5. If my child has either a cough or cold, it’s okay to immediately give them OTC medicines

According to Norman Tomaka, a spokesperson for the American Pharmacists Association, “OTC cough and cold products such as decongestants, expectorants, antihistamines, and cough suppressants should not be used in children under 2 years old.” Said medicines may be misused thus causing serious and life-threatening side effects.

On the other hand, Elizabeth Shepard, MD, a clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Stanford University School of Medicine says, “You can buy and give OTC cough and cold products to children aged 4 and over. But talk to your doctor first, and never use more than one at a time.” She goes on to say, “Beware of combination products. There are many of them out there. Don’t give a cold medicine and Tylenol because the cold medicine may also have acetaminophen (the active ingredient in Tylenol) in it, and this can result in an overdose.”

6. Breastfeeding babies SHOULD NEVER drink from a bottle or else they won’t go back to breastfeeding

According to WebMD, babies suck on a nipple, but suckle at the breast. The difference between the two actions will rarely confuse your little one, experts say. If you think you need to supplement your baby's feeds (particularly if you plan to return to work before you finish nursing), then you should introduce your baby to the bottle between two and six weeks of age.

Use the bottle for one or two feeds a day. Your baby will develop the skills necessary to bottle-feed without losing the ability to feed at the breast. Use your own milk when trying the bottle, and hold your baby close to your body to cuddle. It's the bonding time that matters almost as much as the actual feeding.

7. My child is healthy, active, and eating well so he doesn’t need immunization shots

“Vaccinations are intended to help keep healthy kids healthy. Because vaccines work by protecting the body before disease strikes, if you wait until your child gets sick, it will be too late for the vaccine to work. The best time to immunize kids is when they're healthy.”

Healthy kids: Kiddie health myths that moms can ignore!

8. Reading in the Dark Will Weaken Your Eyesight

This myth goes hand in hand with the “watching television too close will cause severe eye damage” myth, and with both, your child’s eyesight is not being damaged but instead may be indicative of underlying vision problems. Aside from getting eyestrain or a headache, such actions may pertain to your child needing glasses.

In fact, according to The American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), “kids can actually focus up close without eyestrain better than adults, so they often develop the habit of sitting right in front of the television or holding reading material close to their eyes. However, sitting close to a TV may be a sign of nearsightedness.”

9. The B.R.A.T. diet is best for diarrhea

According to Andrea McCoy, M.D., an associate professor of pediatrics at Temple University in Philadelphia, a  regimen of bananas, rice, applesauce, and toast used to be the standard prescription for thickening watery stools. While they work great, a plate full of rice, with banana for dessert, isn't always appealing to a sick kid. In fact, the child will feel better faster if fed the food that he actually wants to eat sans spicy and greasy foods and fruit juice.

10. To be healthy, you have to drink 8 glasses or more of water a day

Research shows that it can actually be detrimental to drink too much water, as it can lead water intoxication. Water intoxication occurs when a person drinks so much water that the other nutrients in the body become diluted to the point that they can no longer do their jobs. This may lead to the swelling of your cells with excess fluid or can may even lead to fatal results.

“The exact amount of water intake that can lead to water intoxication is unknown and varies with each individual. Symptoms of water intoxication include nausea, altered mental state, vomiting, headaches,muscle weakness and convulsions. In severe cases of water intoxication, coma and death come fairly quickly as a result of brain swelling. The condition is quite rare in the general population, but in distance athletics, it's a known risk and is often avoided by drinking sports drinks instead of water during training and events.”

 

If you have any insights, questions or comments regarding the topic, please share them in our Comment box below.
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Google+ to stay up-to-date on the latest from theAsianparent.com Philippines!

Partner Stories
Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
A mom’s responsibility: Getting vaccinated for her children
These 5 Easy Holiday Recipes Will Make the Christmas Filling At Home Extra Special
These 5 Easy Holiday Recipes Will Make the Christmas Filling At Home Extra Special
SEE, TASTE AND LOVE THE NEWEST DAIRY-FREE MILK IN THE METRO
SEE, TASTE AND LOVE THE NEWEST DAIRY-FREE MILK IN THE METRO

Got a parenting concern? Read articles or ask away and get instant answers on our app. Download theAsianparent Community on iOS or Android now!

img
Written by

Raisa Tan

Become a Contributor

  • Home
  • /
  • Health
  • /
  • Healthy kids: Kiddie health myths that moms can ignore!
Share:
  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
    Partner Stories

    Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days

  • How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

    How to count menstrual cycle? 4 phases of menstrual cycle

  • PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

    PCOS symptoms: What you need to know about Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome

  • Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days
    Partner Stories

    Sabaw recipe: 7 Pinoy comfort food for the family during rainy days

Get advice on your pregnancy and growing baby. Sign up for our newsletter
  • Pregnancy
    • Baby
    • Breastfeeding & Formula
    • Baby Names
    • Delivery
  • Parenting
    • Parent's Guide
    • Advice for Parenting Kids
    • Relationship & Sex
  • Lifestyle Section
    • Local celebs
    • Celebrities
    • Money
    • News
  • FAMILY & HOME
    • Couples
    • Weekend & Holiday Guide
    • Health
  • Building a BakuNation
    • More
      • TAP Community
      • Advertise With Us
      • Contact Us
      • Become a Contributor


    • Singapore flag Singapore
    • Thailand flag Thailand
    • Indonesia flag Indonesia
    • Philippines flag Philippines
    • Malaysia flag Malaysia
    • Sri-Lanka flag Sri Lanka
    • India flag India
    • Vietnam flag Vietnam
    • Australia flag Australia
    • Japan flag Japan
    • Nigeria flag Nigeria
    • Kenya flag Kenya
    © Copyright theAsianparent 2023. All rights reserved
    About Us|Team|Privacy Policy|Terms of Use |Sitemap HTML
    • Tools
    • Articles
    • Feed
    • Poll

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    We use cookies to ensure you get the best experience. Learn MoreOk, Got it

    theAsianparent heart icon
    Nais naming magpadala ng notification sa'yo tungkol sa latest news at update sa pag-aalaga ng baby at kanilang kalusugan.