Rub a bit of whisky on their gums. Go on, she'll be fine.
We are all familiar with grandparents somewhat unusual advice when it comes to raising our children.
But now a study has found that grandparents who are practising outdated health practices could actually be putting their grandkids at risk.
The research was presented at a Paediatric Academic Societies Meeting in San Francisco this week.
It claimed that old-school parenting advice such as putting babies to bed on their fronts and ice-baths to cool down a fever is outdated and harmful.
(For the record, it is recommended all infants are put to sleep on their backs, and a lukewarm bath is safer).
The findings also suggest that grandparents take caregiving courses before taking the responsibilities of caring for children (even if it is part-time).
Now, I don't know about you but I imagine your situation isn't too dissimilar to my own.
But let me tell you that I won't be suggesting to my mother-in-law that she should take a course on how to mind her grandchildren.
That would be game over.
Not only would she be highly offended and angry, I doubt there would be no more date nights for me and my husband.
Of course, sometimes it is frustrating when granny gives my child a bottle with juice or suggests gripe water for teething, but it is our responsibility as parents to filter out this advice and take it with a grain of salt.
I have to say that I have learnt more from the grandparents in my life than I could list.
Yes, they do things a different way, but that is ok. I imagine when I become a grandmother things will have changed again and my daughter will laugh at me for being stuck in my ways.
I think studies such as these only serve to amplify the small risk there could be to children and they don't illustrate the benefits and wisdom of experience being passed down to the next generation.
My mother-in-law is the first person I call if something goes wrong with the children.
I know I am lucky and not everyone has the same relationship but to vilify grandparents as dithery old bats is also unfair. And untrue.
(For now!)
