MYTH AND TRUTH

MYTH: When babies pull on thier ears, it means they have an ear infection.



TRUTH: It's normal for kids to tug on ears! They're floppy, fun things to grab onto, and babies are very curious and interested in ears," says Alan Greene, MD. "Studies show there's no correctlation betwwn ear tugging and ear infections. " In fact, he points out, if an ear hurts, the baby probably won't want to tug on it.



MYTH: If your baby hasn't had bowel movement in a few days, it means she is constipated.



TRUTH: Constipation doesn't refer to the frequency of bowel movements but the consistency. A baby is constipated if she has hard, comapact stools that are difficult to pass. It can be normal for a baby to not have a bowel movement for a few days; bowel patterns vary in children. If your baby normally has a bowel movement every day and goes a day or two without one, there's no need to worry, but if she's also acting fussy , you may suspect constipation. If the stool she eventually passes is dry and hard, she is constipated. Treatment varies depending on her age. If she is eathing solid foods, you may need to add high fiber food such as prunes, beans and whole grain cereals. Increasing water cnsumption may also help. Call your pediatrician for specific guidlines.



MYTH: Babies can be spoiled if held too much.



TRUTH: During those first few months, holding your baby and responding to his cries is helping him form a secure feeling about the world, "says Laura Jane, MD, so babies can't be "spoiled." But, she says, you can take advantage of the times when your baby is asleep on his own. "It's common for parents to be so wrapped up in our babies that we forget to put them down, which can mean they learn not to be able to fall asleep alone or soothe themselves."



source: American Baby magazine