View Full Version : Please explain this myth
kymwm
Aug 13, 2006, 09:35 PM
I was recently told that you shouldn't feed a baby watermelon during his/hers second summer. I'm sure this is an old wives tale, but the person who told me couldn't remember why you shouldn't. Has anyone ever heard this, & do you know why you shouldn't? Also, I was just reading some postings, & I'm curious - Did Myth have her twins yet??
Myth
Aug 13, 2006, 09:51 PM
Nope not yet... I would guess the watermelon thing is because the seeds tend to be sticky and can possible lodge themselves in the child's airway... Or they might grow watermelons out their ears... lol.. j/k. I think it's most def an old wife's tail. When in doubt go with the seedless variety... I posted just a min ago for an update on the stubbornness of the twins... lol. Hope that this has helped a bit.
P.S. You may get a lot of confusion on your title to this thread. It kind of sounds like your wanting me to explain something... Just thought I would let you know. At least it did to me anyway.
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 05:49 AM
Kym,
It is an old wives tale that has roots based in truth. You do not feed a child watermelon, popcorn or peanuts until the age of 3 because of the seeds. The child's airway is small and the seeds can get stuck causing choking. Unless you know the heimlick (sp) maneuver and don't mind if your child chokes.
JuLee
Aug 14, 2006, 01:28 PM
I've got a niece and nephew, both 2 yo, and they eat watermelon fine. My 1 year old niece however, don't chew very well yet so we usually give her dime size pieces at a time. I think watermelon is fine but I wouldn't try popcorn or peanuts!
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 02:43 PM
Watermelon can be dangerous. I also forgot to mention peanut butter, more children choke on that than any other food.
Myth
Aug 14, 2006, 04:31 PM
And no honey before their first birthday. There is an enzyme that can cause blindness in children under the age of one.
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 04:49 PM
Don't know about blindness, but honey carries a mild form of botulism that can actually kill children under one year old. The only thing that gets the botulism out is pasteurization and you cannot pasturize honey. People over one year can handle the botulism, but not young babies.
kymwm
Aug 14, 2006, 07:05 PM
Thanks everybody. My kids are 7 & 4, I wasn't asking out of concern, it was more out of intrigue. I was just very curious as to what they thought was going to happen. You know, old wives tales & stuff. Only the person who told me this couldn't remember the "why". I was hoping that maybe someone else had heard this & knew the why. I always gave my kids watermelon after they started eating "people" food, & they're fine(I think) lol. However, I also gave my son shellfish at a young age because I didn't know I wasn't supposed to. Since he was still hanging around when I had my daughter, I figured she would be fine to, so I did it again. (They are both still hanging around at 7 & 4, so I guess it was alright) ha ha. Myth, I'll be checking to hear about your twins, & I hope all goes well & this torture ends for you soon. [:=
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 07:08 PM
I know all about old wives tales, I actually like to hear new ones to "collect" them. It is surprising how many are really right on target!! :D
Got any more interesting ones, I would love to hear them.!
educatedhorse_2005
Aug 14, 2006, 07:14 PM
There throat is the same size as there pinky finger take that into consideration.
Here is an old wives tall for you j 9
Pregnant women shouldn't see dead people.
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 07:14 PM
I have never heard that one. Why is that?
LUNAGODDESS
Aug 14, 2006, 07:17 PM
It is not a myth... it just a cautionary tale... watermelon has seeds and the child will not understand that the seed is not to be eaten but needs to be spit out... I too wondered about food myths... I heard ( as young mother) that eating chocolate was bad for breast feeding children... maybe that's why... all my children are just not into chocolate...
kymwm
Aug 14, 2006, 07:19 PM
Actually, if you go to ask.com & type in old wives tales you will get a lot of sites to look at that list many. I know this, because that's what I did for 2 days, looking for the answer. Then I found this site & thought I would ask & see if anyone would know the answer. Some of the tales were very interesting, & some were just funny. It's hard to believe that not so long ago people really believed some of these things. One said to blow cigarette smoke into someone's ear, then put cotton in to hold the smoke in. This was said to cure an earache. However now Dr.'s say that cigarette smoke actually causes ear aches & other ear problems. Things that make you go hum!
educatedhorse_2005
Aug 14, 2006, 07:35 PM
It is said that it will cause birth defects
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 08:00 PM
Oh, yeah I heard one like that... If a woman is smacked while she is pregnant then the baby will have a birth mark where the slap mark is.
educatedhorse_2005
Aug 14, 2006, 08:13 PM
Lets hope mom doesn't see these you now what happened the last time.
J_9
Aug 14, 2006, 08:17 PM
Yeah, Josh, didn't we get in trouble!!
LUNAGODDESS
Aug 14, 2006, 08:25 PM
I Heard If One Are Scared By A Dog... While You Are Pregnant.. And The Baby Jumps... The Child Will Grow Up Being Scared Of Dogs...