You would be surprised how much have changed between raising your eldest baby and your youngest now. In just a two or three year gap, a lot of discoveries will be uncovered, prompting new guidelines for parents to properly raise their kids.
As more research and studies are done, the more the guidelines get modified every time. In fact, Parents advisor Dr. Jennifer Shu, author of American Academy of Pediatrics' "Heading Home With Your Newborn: From Birth to Reality", "Every year, more research is done, so the guidelines from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG), and other medical organizations often change along with new discoveries,"
So to help you keep up with the times, check out the latest rules on raising babies collected from Parents and WebMD. Some of them indeed changed over the years, check them out below:
1. Keep babies sitting backward in a car seat until at least two years old or until she outgrows the car seat.
The reason for extending kids this way is just a reinforcement of APPs recommendation to keep rear-facing as long as possible. However, there were recent recommendations that the minimum for changing the seat direction is one year and 20 pounds. So to set a uniform standard, the APP has revised the recommendation.
More so, make sure to use a federally approved car safety seat. Never, carry your infant while riding a car. The safest location is in the middle of the back seat.
2. Use pacifier when putting the baby to sleep, regardless if you're exclusively breastfeeding.
While doctors have discouraged the use of pacifiers for years, studies have shown that using pacis reduces the risk for Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) as it keeps the airways open. The highest risk for SIDS is usually below six months, so doctors would usually advise stopping using pacifier beyond that age.
3. Keep bumpers including beddings out of the crib.
While crib bumpers were used to keep your babies safe from banging his head, a new recommendation is against its use. In 2011, the AAP cited multiple studies showing those extra layers can suffocate babies. In recent years, deaths related to bumpers have tripled according to a study.
Also, make sure cords on blinds and drapes are out of babies' reach. Never put strings around baby's neck especially to hold the pacifier.
4. Start introducing peanut butter to babies in their first year.
Previous recommendation states to refrain from introducing peanuts, tree nuts and the like until your kid is three. However, there's no recommended age on when to introduce allergenic foods. For a long time, parents have avoided letting babies eat this type of food, however, cases of food allergies have doubled in the last two decades.
5. Use fluoride toothpaste as soon as your baby grows teeth.
The old recommendation suggests using toothpaste starting age two, however, the new guideline states to use very small amount of toothpaste as soon as the baby grows a tooth. With the previous advice, a lot of preschoolers developed cavities according to studies.
For more parenting guidelines on feeding and a lot more, visit AAPs website. You may also check out the video below:
