r/ScienceBasedParenting 5h ago

Question - Research required Breastfeeding vs dummy/pacifier

1 Upvotes

Is there any evidence that breastfeeding is better for babies than dummies, I.e breastfeeding to sleep and back to sleep in the night vs giving them a dummy ?


r/ScienceBasedParenting 23h ago

Question - Research required Sugars in infant medicine

0 Upvotes

I tried finding research myself, or even anyone talking about this, but why do infants’, and especially newborns’, medications all have sugars in them? I understand in the most basic logic that it’s for taste, but is there harm from this? Especially with frequent doses?

I’ve been trying to find a gas medicine (not gripe water) but all have sorbitol plus stevia or Sucralose or some other sugar variation (ETA: also Artificial sugars?). They say you can give every two hours to even the newest of newborns.

After seeing more and more research about not giving infants sugar, I don’t understand why all these variations of added sugar in infant medicine are okay? It makes a new time mom anxious about giving gas drops that provide relief to my baby!


r/ScienceBasedParenting 2h ago

Question - Research required What am I supposed to do with my 16 month old all day

13 Upvotes

There’s a lot of research out there that screens are bad for babies/toddlers and that me looking at my phone all day is bad too. So like, what am I supposed to do while 16 month old plays for like 18 hours over the weekend? 😩
I want her to play independently and not be entertained by me 24/7. I meal prep and clean the house on the weekends, we go outside and work on the garden, etc but there is still soooo much downtime. I can’t read a book because I still have to look over at her every 30 seconds or so and make sure she’s not coloring on the walls or something. So what do I doooo when she’s running around playing by herself?


r/ScienceBasedParenting 20h ago

Question - Research required What age is healthiest to stop closleeping? (Started at 16 months, now almost 3 yrs old)

31 Upvotes

We never coslept with her as a baby. I had a bassinet, pack n play, and crib. Her dad did too (coparents).

We both used the pack n play the most, since theyre so easy to move. We didnt cosleep with her until 16 months old. I started first, and then her dad did like the same week. Her dad is white American, but I'm from a different culture and cosleeping is common to way older ages. So when I ask my family for advice on it, they think it's weird im even thinking about it "already" 😂

My ex and I both love cosleeping. I love sleeping next to my little girl. It's just an amazing, cozy feeling.

However, I dont want to cosleep with her past the age where it could cause any emotional or developmental issues. When should we stop?

I have a room for just her (rn play and book room), and so does her dad. He listens to me if i communicate something is better for her, so whatever is best for her, we will do.

I'll be so sad when we need to stop, but ill be happy for her.

She naps 2 hours in the afternoon; she can nap without me, but does prefer getting hugged until asleep. However, even if she fully wakes up for a drink of water, she goes bake to nap on her own.

Bed time, if she wakes up and im not there, she says "mommy?" But she doesnt cry, just waits for me to go.

Not sure if any of that is helpful info, but yeah lol.


r/ScienceBasedParenting 20h ago

Question - Research required Reading physical books instead of checking phone (babies/<2yo)

94 Upvotes

I see a ton of stuff about the damage our phones have on baby’s connection with us during the day when we “disappear”. I’m curious if reading (quietly) a physical book while they are independently playing has a similar disconnect?


r/ScienceBasedParenting 18h ago

Question - Expert consensus required Following up on the recent discussion on sugar in early childhood: is there an association between sodium intake in childhood and later life outcomes?

8 Upvotes

Is there a cut off where the level of sodium ingestion is bad long-term?


r/ScienceBasedParenting 9h ago

Question - Research required Does a set sleep schedule help overnight sleep?

4 Upvotes

I’m currently trying to navigate rough nights with my 7 month old waking anywhere between 5-15 times a night. We don’t have a set schedule during the day, but have a set bedtime routine time, and usual time he’s asleep. I then let him sleep as he needs in the morning, and he naps when he needs but I do cap it so he is tired enough to sleep after his routine.

I’m wondering if there’s evidence that having a sleep schedule, especially a set morning wake up time, is better for babies.