5 of your mother's health tips you should ignore

When it comes to raising children, there is often no one better to ask for advice than your own mother. However, doctors have looked into a few common health tips passed on from generation to generation and discovered that maybe we shouldn’t always follow our mother’s advice. Find out what these myths are and what you should do instead.

Not only is drinking while breastfeeding dangerous to baby if the appropriate steps have not been taken to assure the alcohol is out of your system, but it doesn’t have any benefit on milk production either. Studies show that all alcohol, including dark beer, actually reduces milk production in the long run. If you’re concerned about low milk production, see a lactation consultant for help.

This myth is surprisingly dangerous for toddlers and children alike. Continuously giving your child more than the recommended amount of cow’s milk daily can lead to iron deficiency anemia and malnutrition. This is because cow’s milk is low in iron and too much of it can cause microscopic amounts of blood loss through the digestive tract. It's best to consult with your physician or with Canada’s Food Guide to determine how much milk your child should be drinking.

Studies show that steroid inhalers can indeed temporarily stunt growth when they are initially started. However, it’s been proven that the long-term affects on height are negligible (studies show that adult height can be affected by up to half an inch). What we do know is that steroid inhalers can prevent hospital admissions and save lives in asthmatic children. So what if your child ends up a smudge shorter as an adult if that inhaler potentially saved her life?

Evidence now suggests that late introduction of highly allergenic foods may actually lead to more food allergies in children. In most cases, introduction of whole eggs and peanut butter can be introduced after six months of age. Doctors suggest the following gradual introduction to reduce your child`s risk of a major reaction: Place a small amount of peanut butter on their skin, if they have no reaction, the following day you can place a small amount on their lips. If tolerated, a small amount can be ingested the next day. Always speak with your physician before allergenic foods are introduced.

The evidence on this one seems to go back and forth over the years. Hydrogen peroxide does reduce your chance of infection.  However, it can also delay healing by killing off healthy cells. If you choose to use hydrogen peroxide, reserve it only for really dirty wounds while using water (preferably sterile) for everything else. If you are unsure, clean the cut with water and see a physician right away.

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