8 Things You Should Never Do With A Baby

Being a mother is a complex task, but you should know what things you should never do with a baby. With lots of love and patience, you will be able to succeed at this stage of your life.

When getting pregnant, it is normal to receive a lot of advice from other experienced mothers and even grandmothers. But that doesn’t mean they’re right.

Everyone tells you what to do and what not to do with your baby. Sometimes, however, they are just well-founded ideas. So it ‘s important to know what things you should never do with a baby, harmful things that we sometimes do with the best of intentions.

However, as Nietzsche said: “the road to hell is paved with good intentions”. But often, it’s not just the intention that counts, but the result produced.

Some things you should never do with a baby

It is true that being a mother for the first time is a difficult job, but it is not impossible. With the necessary information, help, and practice, you will be able to allow your child to develop properly. Here are some things you should avoid.

1. Leave him crying for a long time

As a mother, there will be times when you are sure to be very busy. But remember that your baby needs your care constantly and he tries to communicate by crying so that you pay attention. And it’s only through crying that he can express his needs.

Letting him cry for a long time can be harmful. If this happens, the baby will feel distressed and may increase their stress levels, causing dependence, insecurity and possible damage to their emotional and intellectual development, according to this study published in Development and psychopathology .

You must never fail to attend to your baby when he cries.

We have to answer them at the first call!

Therefore, by attending and communicating with your little one constantly, you will strengthen his trust in you, allowing him, in the future, to be a child without self-esteem problems and to be able to adapt effectively in society.

2. Lay him on his stomach to sleep

In the past, it was said that placing the baby on its stomach helped expel gas and avoided the risk of suffocation due to vomiting. However, it is currently considered that, on the contrary, it increases the chances of sudden death from asphyxia. Laying it face up is the best way to avoid unnecessary risks.

Similarly, as this work by researchers at the University of Las Palmas de Gran Canaria shows, sleeping on your back is associated with a higher incidence of sudden death syndrome (SIDS) cases.

3. Leave it alone, not paying attention

It is a serious mistake to believe that babies are too small and will not move if left alone, as children have the ability to turn around and hurt themselves. That’s why this is one of the things you should never do with a baby.

In addition, the common causes of children’s falls are because their parents leave them alone in bed or crib. And if they are unprotected at a high height, they can tip over and fall, causing serious injury.

4. Shake it or shake it

It is common for parents, as if it were a game, to shake the baby when he cries to try to make him stop, and sometimes it even works. However, this prank can cause irreversible damage. Shaking or shaking small children can cause shaken baby syndrome .

This syndrome is defined as trauma in which the brain moves back and forth within the skull. Some of the damages it can cause, according to this research published in Psicopatology Clínica Legal y Forense , are as follows:

Bruises and hemorrhages.
Blindness.
Hearing loss or speech disorders.
Neck damage.
Permanent brain damage.
Death.

5. Physical punishment, one of the things you should never do with a baby

If you think your baby is misbehaving, you shouldn’t slap him on the buttock or hand. What you should do is look him in the eye and speak to him in a firm voice.

Physically punishing him can bring physical and psychological consequences, in addition to making him become an aggressive child with low self-esteem. Equally important, the child may have less confidence in you and feel uncomfortable with the parents’ presence, poor intellectual growth, and little motivation to learn new things.

6. Don’t burp

It is necessary to insist that the baby burp so that it can expel the gases that are generated after feeding. If this is not done, the child may suffer more colic from the gas, and it will be difficult for him to rest. If she is asleep, she may wake up from the pain.

7. Feed him with varied meals

You should never feed your baby without consulting the pediatrician first

Feeding must be progressive.

It is a very common mistake to feed a baby ahead of time with foods other than breast milk or formula prescribed by the doctor. You should keep in mind that your baby’s digestive system is developing in the first few months of life, so feeding him other foods can cause allergies and intolerance.

8. Allow the baby to come into contact with bacteria and viruses

Another thing you should never do with a baby is hold it or touch it with dirty hands. It is necessary to wash your hands several times a day. In this way, you can effectively prevent the spread of disease by bacteria and viruses.

In addition, you should avoid contact with people who have mild flu or cold symptoms, because if the little ones are infected, this can lead to complications such as pneumonia, bronchiolitis and other serious respiratory problems.

About the things you should never do with a baby

In summary, it ‘s a good idea to ask a specialist for advice directly whenever you have any questions about the things you should never do with a baby. This will avoid confusion and mismatched information.

If you are concerned about the care your baby should receive, don’t think twice about asking someone with experience for help. But remember that the most important thing is to give lots of love and make your baby feel like you will always be there for him.