Beware of “grandmother's remedies”, some can be dangerous for your baby's health

Ah grandparents, they are so familiar with raising children. When we have a doubt, we usually ask our parents who often have, it must be admitted, the answer to everything. Because yes, it's reassuring to have people with experience close to you.

• Grandparents can't take care of their grandchildren anymore

Video by Shawna Montout

But according to this American study from the US Census Bureau, the advice of our grandparents should be taken with a grain of salt, as it can sometimes be dangerous for the baby. “When grandparents get to work, it can be wonderful for the grandchildren, but can also pose challenges in terms of lifestyle, finances and mental and physical health for a slightly older cohort or aged ”, says Dr. Andrew Adesman, lead author of the study.

Misconceptions about education

According to researchers, nearly 7 million children in the United States are raised exclusively by their grandparents. In the course of the study, they looked at the misconceptions that grandparents hold about education. Thus, we learn that some people advocate putting whiskey on the gums of babies when they are teething. Others recommend putting babies in an ice cube tray when they have a fever. But these methods can be dangerous for the baby, even though these techniques have already worked for them.

"I think pediatricians should also assess not only the health and well-being of the child, but also ask about the physical and social health of the grandparent who also took the responsibility of raising this child" , he indicates. “Because although grandparents have often chosen to take on this role, it is not something they intended and it can be a challenge in many areas. Many grandparents are up to the challenge, but it can come at some cost. "

So while some tips are worth gold for parents, it's important not to follow them blindly. Sure, they sure are great parents, but a lot has changed since they became parents.