Myths Moms Should Know

When I first became a mom, everyone offered advice and thoughts about how to handle different aspects of parenting such as discipline strategies, what toys to buy, the best baby gear and the best foods for brain development. Well, now that cold and flu season is arriving, I found myself wondering about the best remedies for coughing, fever, sneezing and runny noses that are beginning to invade my house.

Luckily, Parenting magazine arrived this week with a great article called “TLC for colds, flus and more” ( November 2006 issue) The article examines 7 myths that moms have often heard and gives the true facts behind the myths. It has given me some enlightenment and I hope it will do the same for you!

Myth #1: Feed a cold, Starve a fever
Truth: Parenting says that all sick kids and adults with a fever or cold, need liquids and nutrients from food to
regain their health. Foods such as chicken noodle soup, ice cream and juices are good options if your child does
not feel up to eating solid foods.

Myth #2: Greenish mucus means that your child has something worse than a cold.
Truth: Clear mucus is most common but green or yellow mucus could simply be signs of nothing more than a
cold. But, if a child has discolored mucus and a continued high fever, lesser appetite, cough or great nasal congestion,
this could indicate an infection that might require antibiotics.

Myth #3: Colds and flus are most contagious before symptoms appear.
Truth: These spread more easily when symptoms are heightened. The risk of catching something that another
child has continues as long as the symptoms do.

Myth #4: It is best not to treat mild fevers.
Truth: It really depends on how the child is feeling. A fever is a sign that a child’s body is fighting an infection.
Keeping it balanced by giving the child the right dose of ibuprofen or acetaminophen may help to alleviate
crankiness and un comfortableness. One exception is a child under 6 months of age. Any fever should result in
a call to the doctor.

Myth #5: The B.R.A.T. diet is best for diarrhea.
Truth: BRAT stands for bananas, rice, cereal and toast and was an old standard for thickening up stools. This
works but a sick child may reject them. Feeding a child what he will actually eat, avoiding spicy and greasy food
and fruit juice can help him feel better in a reasonable amount of time.

Myth #6 : Don’t kiss a baby of you have a cold.
Truth: A kiss will probably not hurt as the saliva in your mouth does not contain the cold bacteria that can be
found in the sneeze or cough that comes out. But the best way to keep your child from catching a cold is to
wash hands often.

Myth #7: Colds cause ear infections.
Truth: All colds are caused by viruses and about 90% of ear infections are caused by bacteria. Colds do create
mucus and fluid that builds up in the ear canal, allowing bacteria to grow.