Five common myths parents have about their childrens health

Were you one of those children who were binge fed on carrots because you kept walking into walls and low hanging things or sat too close to the TV? Well I was.

My mother believed that eating a ton of carrots would improve my eyesight. Well it didn’t! I kept walking into walls and eventually as an adult I had to wear spectacles.

This and many other myths have been passed down generations, with parents accepting them as gospel. Below are five common myths that parents have about their children’s health.

Myth: Eating raw carrots will improve your child’s eyesight

We all heard this one when our mothers wanted us to finish those carrots! While there is some basis in truth for this, it is very little.

Carrots are rich in beta-carotene, which the body converts to Vitamin A, which is important for good eyesight but only unless your child suffers from vitamin A deficiency, feasting on carrots though will not improve his eyesight.

It is still advisable to serve them carrots, as they are low in calories and rich in an important nutrient. They are the one vegetable kids will eat with no fuss.

Myth: It is best for your baby to sleep on his side

The reality is to reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), healthy babies should always be put to sleep on their backs – not on their stomachs or sides.

Babies placed on their sides are less stable; they can roll over from a side position onto their stomachs quite easily (or fall over when they’re too young to roll).

You can safely give your baby daily supervised “tummy time” when he’s awake.

Letting him experience the world from this position can be a fun way to play and it helps her strengthen muscles on his neck, arms, upper body, which he’ll need for pushing up, rolling over and crawling.

Myth: Watching TV close up is bad for your child’s eyes

When your child is sitting close to the TV, it’s not going to affect his or her vision, but it may be a sign you child is nearsighted and needs corrective lenses.

Otherwise, children’s eyes correct quite nicely when they sit close up. But it may also be a sign that they’re watching too much TV!

Myth: If your child stays outside when it is cold and windy, he’ll get a flu

Cold weather itself cannot give you flu.

The only way your child can get a flu is from a virus that you breathe in.

One of the best ways to prevent getting a cold is to ensure that your child has washed his hands with warm water and soap often.

Myth: Baby walkers help babies walk sooner

Actually, walkers prevent children from seeing their feet, and when you’re learning to walk, you need to have good eye-hand-foot coordination.

If anything, walkers slow down the ability to coordinate the entire gait.

In addition, there are safety problems. When children start rolling around, there are too many accidents from children in walkers falling down stairs.