Craziest Advice New Moms Have Gotten on Caring for Baby (Some of It Even Works!)

Sigh. What is it about a baby that makes everyone and their mother (literally) want to give you random pieces of advice on how you should or should not be parenting your child? It's like seeing those chubby little cheeks and 10 tiny fingers and toes suddenly makes people go into expert mode — and they just can't resist getting all preachy whenever you're within an earshot.

Granted, sometimes the baby advice family, friends, and even strangers offer can be quite good and useful. But other times, it can sound downright wacky or unthinkable.

Like putting Vaseline on a Q-tip and sticking it in your baby's butt to help relieve constipation. Yes, someone actually advised me to do this, and while I kind of poo-pooed it (hee hee hee) at first, I finally broke down and gave it a shot when my poor baby boy was backed up to the point of no return and I was all out of options. And guess what? It worked like a charm.

About 10 seconds after I put the tip of that cotton swab in, he pooped to his heart's content, and all was right with the world again.

I guess sometimes even the wackiest advice can come in handy, but then again, some of it just seems way too "out there" to try.

I asked some other fellow parents about the craziest piece of baby advice they ever received — and gathered up some real doozies, like these little gems.

"Put whiskey on the baby's gums to help them with teething pain….needless to say I did not try it!" — @MacKidSuze

"My West Indian babysitter told me to put a red string on the baby's forehead to cure hiccups (I just Googled it, I guess it's a common suggestion). I did try it. It didn't work." — @Anna_Sandler

"To gently tip the baby backwards/nearly upside down to see if they are 'off' in their spine alignment (they will turn their head to one side if they are off) … it has worked several times but I always let the chiropractor do it! LOL (NOTE: it's a very gentle and fully supported dip backwards for just a few seconds!)" — @ayearwithmomdad

"That I should sleep my newborn on her stomach with a pillow under her head to make her cheeks less chubby. Funny, because I think chubby cheeks are cute!" — Sarah

"Flip the baby upside down by its feet so its liver doesn't grow to his/her back." — @mskilgore41809

"For teething, I was told by someone to give her ice cubes. Um, what about choking?" — Catherine, The Stir

"When your baby is fussy for no reason and crying….Scream really loud and make a scary face. You will then scare the baby to stop that behavior." — My Sensational Kid

"I was told to put a piece of lint from the baby's blanket on her forehead to stop hiccups. This was from a Target clerk! Haven't tried it but I will when she starts to hiccup!" — Meegan

"Everyone kept telling me to try to get my baby on a schedule, which I now realize is insane for an infant! Babies will obviously make their own schedules – worrying about having your baby do certain things at certain times will drive any mom bonkers." — Nicole, The Stir

"To give my newborn coke to stop reflux." — My Cherubs & Me

"This was a weird one a mom told me: Don’t hold up your baby and let him practice standing or walking because it could make him bow-legged." — Adriana, The Stir

"When my cousin had her son they were living in Germany (her husband is Air Force), and the German women all told her to drink a beer to help with her milk letdown." — Jeanne, The Stir

"If the baby is up all night and asleep all day turn the baby 3 times in his crib at bedtime." — @momatplay

"My MIL told me to give my newborn water for the hiccups. She was 3 days old! It's the 'old fashioned' way. Didn't do it!" — @MyMotherfulLife

"Use cloth diapers and the ones with just pee, use them to wipe the baby's skin because it will make it soft. NEVER tried!!" — @Solosngr

What's the craziest piece of baby advice you've ever received? Did you try it? Did it work?

Image via Mary Fischer