Key takeaways: Many baby care recommendations have changed since grandparents raised their children. Key updates include back sleeping with a bare crib, rear-facing car seats for as long as possible, no cereal in bottles, no honey before age 1, no water for young babies, and introducing allergenic foods early. Sharing updates kindly helps everyone work as a team.
Grandparents are a wonderful source of love and help. Some baby advice has changed, based on newer research.
Sleep
- Then: stomach sleeping, bumpers, blankets, and pillows were common.
- Now: back to sleep for every sleep, on a firm flat surface, with nothing in the crib. Room-sharing without bed-sharing. These changes have helped lower SIDS rates.
Car Seats
- Then: babies often turned forward-facing at 1 year, or rode without car seats.
- Now: the AAP recommends rear-facing as long as possible, until reaching the seat’s highest rear-facing height or weight limit. No bulky coats in car seats.
Feeding
- No cereal in bottles unless your doctor advises it.
- No water for babies under 6 months.
- No honey before 12 months.
- No cow’s milk as a drink before 12 months.
- No juice before 12 months.
- Solids around 6 months, not weeks old.
- Allergenic foods like peanut and egg are introduced early, around 6 months, rather than delayed.
Health
- Fever in a baby under 3 months needs a call to the doctor.
- No aspirin for children.
- No over-the-counter cough and cold medicines for young children.
- Vitamin D drops for breastfed babies.
Gear and Safety
- No baby walkers.
- Anchor furniture and use cordless window coverings.
- No teething necklaces or numbing gels.
Comfort
- You can’t spoil a young baby by responding to cries.
- Never shake a baby.
Sharing Updates Kindly
- Explain that recommendations change as research grows.
- Share the “why” behind updates.
- Ask grandparents for their wisdom on comforting and enjoying babies.
- Give written notes for babysitting.
The Bottom Line
Today’s advice reflects newer research. Sharing it kindly helps grandparents feel confident and keeps babies safe.
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Sources
- Moon RY, Carlin RF, Hand I; Task Force on Sudden Infant Death Syndrome; Committee on Fetus and Newborn. Sleep-related infant deaths: updated 2022 recommendations for reducing infant deaths in the sleep environment. Pediatrics. 2022;150(1):e2022057990.
- Durbin DR, Hoffman BD; Council on Injury, Violence, and Poison Prevention. Child passenger safety. Pediatrics. 2018;142(5):e20182460.
- American Academy of Pediatrics. Tips for grandparents: what’s changed in baby care. HealthyChildren.org. https://www.healthychildren.org
- Togias A, Cooper SF, Acebal ML, et al. Addendum guidelines for the prevention of peanut allergy in the United States: report of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases-sponsored expert panel. J Allergy Clin Immunol. 2017;139(1):29-44.
This article is for general education and is not a substitute for individualized medical advice. Always talk with your baby’s health care provider or your own provider about your specific situation. If you think your baby or you may have a medical emergency, call 911.
