Hello!

16 Comments

Grandma’s old remedies can actually be a danger to your child. Some older relatives still believe in ideas that have been disproved by modern medicine.

Have you ever stopped to think leaving your children in the care of their grandparents could pose a risk to their health?

Dr Andrew Adesman presented his findings at the Pediatric Academic Societies meeting in San Francisco.

He said: ‘When grandparents step up to the plate, it can be wonderful for grandchildren but can also pose challenges in terms of lifestyle, finances and mental and physical health to a somewhat older or elderly cohort.

Dr Adesman said that in the intervening decades since grandparents raised their own children, certain parenting practices and health beliefs have evolved – of which the grandparents were unaware, shares Daily Mail.

In his US-based research, he found that 44 percent of the 636 grandparents surveyed mistakenly believed that ‘ice baths are a good way to bring down a very high fever.’

While once held to be true, now it has been found that giving a feverish child an ice baths puts them at risk of hypothermia.

And 25 per cent did not know that ‘infants should be put to sleep on their back, not on their stomach or side. Sleeping on the stomach or side is now considered to be a major risk factor for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

Old Wives Tales

Other myths that grandparents are more likely to accept include butter being a good first-aid remedy for minor burns – a belief held by 80 per cent of people.

Meanwhile, 62 per cent wrongly believe that scrapes and cuts heal better without a bandage, according to Dr Adesman’s research.

It is important that parents update their own mothers and fathers on current health care practices.

Dr Adesman said: ‘It’s important that paediatricians don’t make the mistake of taking for granted that because these grandparents have raised children already, they have the wisdom of the ages.’

First aid training is a good idea for all ages

St John provides a full range of best practice certified, customised and online first aid training with flexible delivery options available throughout Australia. St John can also assess your first aid workplace needs by arranging a Best Practice First Aid Readiness assessment.

Find all the details here.

If you are time poor there are some great first aid facts online HERE.

Share your comments below.

Shutterstock photo

We may get commissions for purchases made using links in this post. Learn more.
  • Hmmm, I can see where this is coming from. My mother in law fave me tips that I would never have used. Such as phenergan in their bottle at bedtime. Sugar on food to encourage them to eat it. Butter on burns. But sometimes her advice helped, just not any of the above listed

    Reply

  • My in-laws suggest I put honey on the dummy so baby can take it. Baby is 4 months old and doing well without it. It bothers them he loves sucking his hand. Thats why I never leave the kids with them.

    Reply

  • yep times change and medical advances and discoveries are happening all the time

    Reply

  • Just advise your parents the rules you live by and let them know why. Most parents are happy to do what you want.

    Reply

  • I actually feel paranoid about babysitting now because of the first aid training. I do agree tho. My mother in law often gave me mum advice that I would never have considered, but she swore by

    Reply

  • I am not at all surprised. I wouldn’t trust my parents with my kds.

    Reply

  • There is 30 years between my oldest child and youngest ones. So yes things have changed a lot in those years. I have held to some of my beliefs I had with the older children as I do with the younger ones. My grand daughter is a different matter as I have to follow what her parents say. I have to do things different with her then my own children. It is not easy trying to follow what parents do now, as long as the child is not being hurt or is in danger , some of the older things we older parents do should not endanger our grand children or any young children in our care.

    Reply

  • I suppose a lot depends on the individual grandparent and whether they are capable or not of looking after young children.

    Reply

  • never even crossed my mind that this was the case! -

    Reply

  • First aid is important not just for grandparents but for every-one to have the knowledge.


    • I totally agree – such and essential and worthwhile skill for everyone in the family.

    Reply

  • First aid is a good idea for all ages – young to old. Many myths do still prevail – there is so much available information to prove myths wrongs which is a good thing.

    Reply

  • My mother in law gave her children fresh raw milk straight from the cow from the moment they were born.
    But as much need to be informed about first aid, we need to be taught ourselves as well.

    Reply

  • I never knew any of those ideas ever existed. My parents never used any of them for us. Maybe because they did first aid courses. A relative of mine did one with Australian Red Cross – general first aid and a special course in Accident First Aid as he is on the road a lot and often spots accidents.

    Reply

  • My 8 month old gets hiccups quite often I’ve had to get mil to promise she won’t tip him upside down or feed him honey she forgets every time

    Reply

  • My mother in law still doesn’t believe that feeding her infant son (my husband), sweetened condensed milk instead of formula for the first year of his life, was wrong.

    Reply

Post a comment
Add a photo
Your MoM account


Lost your password?

Enter your email and a password below to post your comment and join MoM:

You May Like

Loading…

Looks like this may be blocked by your browser or content filtering.

↥ Back to top

Thanks For Your Star Rating!

Would you like to add a written rating or just a star rating?

Write A Rating Just A Star Rating
Join