17 Health "Lies" Parents Still Believe (But Really Shouldn't), According To Pediatricians
We recently asked pediatricians and other medical professionals of the BuzzFeed Community to tell us the health "lies" and mistakes more parents should know for their kids. Here are their eye-opening responses:
1."My cousin is a pediatrician. This is her list: You don't need antibiotics for every sneeze, sniffle, and cough. Most upper respiratory infections are viral, not bacterial, and handing out antibiotics for such is how we ended up with MRSA and other resistant bugs."
"Let it run its course by resting and staying hydrated and fed."
—superwittyusername
2."Formula is safe and healthy for babies, and it is the mother's choice if she wants to formula feed. She needs no reason other than preference."
—superwittyusername
3."Yes — let them get dirty, play in the mud and the rain, make sand castles out of dirt, etc. Kids living in sterile bubbles may not develop a strong immune system as adolescents and adults compared to those who 'make messes.'"
—superwittyusername
4."Watch how much milk your kids are drinking, especially as a toddler. Excess milk intake inhibits your gut from absorbing iron and can make kiddos anemic. I've seen 3-year-olds drinking 2 to 3 gallons of milk a week come in with a hemoglobin of 2 and have to get blood transfusions."
"And along those lines, if a toddler has a bottle/cup in their crib at night, only put water in it. The milk sits on their teeth and has sugars, which can lead to cavities."
—Anonymous, 33, West Virginia
5."It's common for parents to believe that you can tell that a child has strep just by looking in their throats. Strep throat (caused by group A Streptococcus bacteria) can sometimes cause obvious signs like really red tonsils, white patches (exudate), or tiny red spots on the roof of the mouth (petechiae). BUT many other viruses can cause similar symptoms — like red throat, swollen tonsils, even white patches — and aren't strep. Some kids with confirmed strep infections can even have very mild-looking throats without much redness."
"On the flip side, a throat that looks really bad could still be from a mono, COVID-19, or adenovirus, not strep. The only way to know for sure is with a strep test, and if your child has strep, they need to be on antibiotics. Strep is far more dangerous than people realize (look up the PANDAS diagnosis)."
—Anonymous, 41, Massachusetts
6."Anything below 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit is not a fever. It doesn't matter what you 'usually run' or if you have a low normal body temperature — 100.4 is the number."
—Anonymous, 33, USA
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7."Use proper terminology for body parts, always. It's a vagina, not a cookie or a peekaboo. It's a penis, testicles, breasts, etc. These aren't bad words and could save your child the fear associated with their body as they grow up, not to mention the horror of trying to explain SA to someone who doesn't know their terminology for the body parts affected."
"(Ex: 'He touched my cookie' vs. "He touched my vagina.' Yeah, I know it's technically vulva, but to a 6-year-old, in that moment, it doesn't matter.)"
—superwittyusername
8."STOP with the delayed and/or scientifically incorrect sex education. Parents need to take responsibility for making sure their kids learn about puberty, bodily autonomy, and consent (in sexual and non-sexual situations) BEFORE they encounter that information in the real world. Be non-judgmental (and get over your own icks first)."
"Teach it early and with scientific accuracy (don't be afraid to use the anatomically correct words for things, like penis and vagina). If this is done right, it will lay the groundwork for kids to have a healthy relationship with their bodies, empower them with knowledge about a basic human function, remove some of the shame/embarrassment surrounding these topics, give them the terminology to express themselves, AND create long-term trusting communication between them and the parents who educated them."
—Anonymous, 38, New York
9."There is little to no nutritional benefit to juice; it increases the risk of obesity and cavities, and when introduced under the age of 5 years old, it leads to picky eating."
—Anonymous
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10."Myth: That we are giving out antibiotics just because! I work in a NICU; if your baby is on antibiotics, it's because they have an infection."
—Anonymous
11."Myth: Educational apps and videos are important to early development. Spending focused time with your child, even a little at a time, is so important to early development. Please don't just hand them a phone or iPad!"
—Anonymous, 59, New York
"Screen time is associated with developmental delay and behavioral issues. Please don't give a screen before bed. Stationary bodies don't mend calm brains!"
—Anonymous
12."Sugar doesn't cause hyperactivity."
—superwittyusername
13."Honestly, it's a lie that there is a 'right way' to do many things. Parents get a lot of friends, family, and influencers who tell them that a certain method is the best way to feed, sleep train, potty train, etc., and it causes parents to feel guilt and shame if it doesn't work for their family. A lot of parenting is figuring out the mix of strategies that work best for each child. Even siblings can respond differently to different parenting techniques."
"It's okay if you're figuring it out as you go instead of following a popular trend — most parents are, just not the loudest ones."
—Anonymous, 34, Michigan
14."Your child does not need vitamins so long as they have a healthy, varied diet."
"Also, your child getting sick constantly may likely be a normal variant and not an immune problem. Kids get 8–12 infections a year."
—Anonymous
15."Vaccines save lives!!!! They are one of the most significant things that have helped reduce death, disease, and health care costs! As well as increase the average life span."
—Anonymous
"Vaccines don't cause autism. However, vaccine-preventable diseases can cause death and permanent disability."
—Anonymous
16."Establishing mealtime routines is essential to raising a non-picky eater. Sit at the table as a family, cook together, and eat a rainbow of colors. Do not make your kitchen a restaurant; cook one thing for the whole unit, and have a consistent time for dinner. When kids get to eat whenever they feel like it, they never end up feeling quite hungry or full. Understanding your body's signals and sensations is essential for appetite and toileting."
—Anonymous, 44, Arizona
And finally...
17."I'm a peds nurse. Other than not vaccinating your children, another huge mistake is not treating asthma more seriously. We have children come to the ER/hospital almost monthly with asthma exacerbation. Parents reek of cigarette/weed smoke, prescriptions don't get filled (we know), and more importantly, their medications are not given. The most important thing is a controller, which they take every single day, even when feeling fine. It prevents hospital visits."
"Asthma can kill your kid, and I wish they took it much more seriously."
—Anonymous, 38, Canada
Fellow pediatricians and medical professionals, what are other health "lies" and mistakes more parents should know? Tell us in the comments, or use this anonymous form below.
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