Baby app-Buzz
Breastfeeding myths—debunked!
MYTH: You can’t breastfeed while you’re pregnant.
FACT: Some people think the secretion of the hormone oxytocin during breastfeeding
can trigger early labor, but research shows it’s fine for women with uncomplicated
pregnancies. “A healthy pregnant uterus is not receptive to oxytocin surges until the
baby’s ready to be born,” says International Board Certified Lactation Consultant Diana
Cassar-Uhl. Some exceptions: if you’ve had past issues with preterm labor or cervical
dilation, or if you need to be on pelvic rest.
MYTH: Breastfeeding when you’re sick will get your baby sick, too.
FACT: Moms should breastfeed as often as possible when sick. “You’ll be giving your
baby the antibodies that can protect her against any illness you have—whether it’s a cold,
flu, food poisoning, or anything else—but not the illness itself,” Cassar-Uhl says.
MYTH: It’s unsafe to take medications or herbal supplements while breastfeeding.
FACT: It depends on what you’re taking. Most common medications, including
antidepressants taken for postpartum depression, are fine, says Cassar-Uhl. Many nonstimulant herbal or food supplements are okay, too, as long as they don’t decrease your
milk supply (lemon balm, peppermint, and chickweed are a few that can do this). “We
know for sure that breastfeeding is better than not breastfeeding, so even ‘less than ideal’
milk [that might have trace amounts of medication] is still superior to anything else,”
says Cassar-Uhl.
Natural teething solutions
Conventional teething products might soothe sore gums, but at a cost: Most gels contain
the numbing agent benzocaine, which the FDA recently warned should not be used for
children under age 2 because of the chemical’s potential to reduce oxygen in the
bloodstream. Here are some natural options, minus the scary ingredient:
Gel Two options that are free of artifi cial dyes and benzocaine: Baby Orajel Naturals ($6
for .33 ounces, babyorajelnaturals.com) and Hyland’s Teething Gel ($7.60 for .5 ounces,
hylandsteething.com).
Beads The soft, silicone beads on ChewBeads (surprisingly stylish) necklaces and
bracelets are BPA-, phthalate-, and PVC-free. Wear one and let your baby chew away—
the gentle pressure will calm inflamed gums. ($12 to $37, chewbeads.com)
Liquid Boiron Camilia is a blend of chamomile, rhubarb, and pokeweed; it’s tasteless
and quickly absorbed by the gums to reduce swelling and ease pain. ($7 for a 20-dose
box, boironusa.com)
A surprising kind of car seat safety
Milk and meds aren’t the only things that expire: Your child’s car seat does, too. Due to
ongoing advances in car seat technology, all car seats have an expiration date stamped on
their plastic shells. “Time limits can vary by manufacturer but are generally around six
years,” says Lorrie Walker, a child passenger safety technical advisor and training
manager for Safe Kids USA. Have an expired seat? Some local car seat safety checkup
events collect expired ones for recycling; find a checkup event near you at nhtsa.gov.
When your baby has a cold
Many children’s medications aren’t recommended for kids under 2—even some natural
ones. “Depending on the ingredients, the medication could affect an infant’s breathing,
speed up the heart rate, keep infants awake, or make them extra drowsy—more so than
for older kids,” says Tanya Altmann, M.D., editor of The American Academy of
Pediatrics’ Caring for Your Baby and Young Child, Birth to Age 5. Hyland’s now makes
a cough syrup safe for babies 6 months and up—and you can try these solutions:
FOR STUFFY NOSES Holding babies upright for 15 to 20 minutes while they’re awake
can help drain built-up mucus. Also ease mucus with saline drops (1 to 2 drops in each
nostril), or suction mucus with a bulb syringe.
FOR COUGHS A humidifier can help calm dry coughs. For barky coughs, bundle your
baby up and head outside for 20 minutes to let him breathe the cold, dry air.
New SIDS guidelines
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) has issued its first recommendations since
2005 for minimizing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) and other sleeprelated infant deaths. While the old rules of placing infants to sleep on their backs and on
a safe surface (a firm mattress without loose blankets or bumper pads) still apply, here are
two new guidelines to know about:
Do breastfeed A review of recent research—including the largest SIDS study to date,
which found that breastfeeding can halve the risk of SIDS—convinced the AAP to issue
the new recommendation. La Leche League International has actually advocated
breastfeeding to prevent SIDS for years, citing supportive evidence from as far back as
the late 1980s. Breast milk provides beneficial immune boosters that fight against
diarrhea and respiratory infections, both of which are linked to a higher incidence of
SIDS. Breastfed infants tend to rouse from sleep more easily, too, so they’re more likely
to wake up if they’re having a breathing problem.
Consider immunizations If you choose to immunize, it may have a protective effect.
Though there were concerns in the 1970s about the diphtheria-tetanus-pertussis (DTaP)
vaccine upping the risk of SIDS, new evidence says the opposite about all vaccines.
Researchers at the University of Münster in Germany reviewed the results of nine studies,
and found that immunizations were associated with cutting the risk of SIDS in half. The
reasons aren’t clear, so the new recommendation can be just one factor to weigh in your
vaccination decision (the review and others like it didn’t explore vaccinating on a delayed
schedule).
Dental care for the toothless set
Has your baby been to the dentist? Only 23 percent of 1-year-olds and 44 percent of 2-
year-olds have had a dental exam, says a report from the C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital
National Poll on Children’s Health—but all babies should. Along with performing an
exam, the dentist can help you navigate concerns like teething. Two more tips:
Keep gums clean Prevent tooth decay by wiping your baby’s gums with a clean, damp
washcloth after she eats. Once her teeth begin to sprout, brush with a soft toothbrush and
a bit of natural toothpaste. Your baby’s dentist can help you decide whether the
toothpaste should contain fluoride.
No bottles in bed Nighttime bottle feedings (or bottles during a nap) are linked to tooth
decay, since milk sugars (from breastmilk or formula) can stay on baby’s teeth, eroding
the enamel while she sleeps. Finish feeding your baby before putting her down, so you
can clean any residue off her teeth or gums.
A new old-fashioned way to treat colic
Homeopathic therapy is a safe way to treat many common kid ailments, including colic—
which is particularly tricky to handle since babies can’t tell you what hurts! Steven Olsen,
a homeopathic doctor and author of Homeopathy—Nature’s Way to Better Health,
suggests looking at how your child is handling the pain: If he’s bending forward, try
medicine that uses colocynthis, like Boiron’s Cocyntal ($6.60 for 20 unit-doses,
boironusa.com). Derived from the fruit citrullus colocynthis, colocynthis works to ease
spasms in the digestive tract. If she won’t stop crying and can’t be comforted, try a
chamomilla-based remedy, like Hyland’s Colic Tablets ($10 for 125 tablets,
hylands.com). Chamomile is known for its calming effects, and is particularly helpful
with restlessness and irritability.