Motherhood: 15 Old Wives' Tales Involving Babies

Has anyone share their views regarding babies which you do not understand? Here are some of these old wives' tales which I heard over the months:

1. She looks like a boy, so your next baby will be a boy.
2. Don't let her hold her own legs. Or else, you will very get pregnant soon!
3. Look! She's blowing bubbles! It's going to rain soon.
4. She is chubby, so she must be formula fed.
5. Feed her solids, or else she cannot sit up because she lacks the strength.
6. Finger sucking will cause buck teeth.
7. If she do not lie on her ears properly, they will not stick closer to the head.
8. If she keep looking to the side, her eyes will permanently stay there.
9. Kissing her face too much will cause skin problem.
10. She keeps crying because you don't have enough breast milk.
11. Don't carry her too much. Or else, she will get used to it.
12. If you pick her up immediately when she cries, you will spoil her.
13. Don't rock/nurse her to sleep. Or else, she won't know how to sleep on her own.
14. If you drink milk, it will cause her to have phlegm.
15. Cover her when she has fever, so that she can sweat it out.

Some of them are definitely false not just based on my personal experience. Others, even if I want to put them to test such as point 3 regarding bubble blowing and weather, it does not seem convincing when Singapore has entered her Northeast monsoon season. Also, testing with a sample size of one baby is just not going to be convincing. The rest, maybe there are some truths in them (that's why they lasted until now?!).

Here are some which are false:

• Point 4 is false because QW is total breastfed! I am sure many breastfeeding mummies can testify to this as well!
• Since she was commented as being chubby, point 10 is also false. How else will she look chubby if I don't have enough breast milk? Logically speaking, there are many other reasons why babies cry (e.g. dirty diapers, too hot/cold, boredom, etc.) because their only mode of communication is to cry.
• Point 15 is false! Please don't cover your child when he/she is having fever! Instead, you should sponge them to help bring the temperature down and keep the room ventilated. I am pretty sure your paediatrician would have given similar advice. If the fever persist or is too high, do seek medical help.

Do you know of any other old wives' tales? 

Do you have evidence(s) to show whether the above are true or false? 

Do share them!