Unbiased Science

Fighting For Their Life: Parenting In The Era of Information Overload

Oct 22, 2025
Guest
Dr. Diane Arnaout
Dr. Diane Arnaout, a Texas-based pediatrician, shares her insights on the chaos of parenting amid information overload. She tackles viral misinformation, particularly a TikTok suggesting newborn behavior indicates autism, and its impact on parents' fears. Dr. Arnaout provides essential first-aid tips for babies and discusses strategies to protect infants from measles before vaccination. She also addresses the nuances of breastfeeding versus formula, emphasizing evidence-based guidance to support parents in making informed decisions.
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INSIGHT

Algorithmic Anxiety Over Normal Baby Behavior

  • Social media often amplifies normal newborn behaviors into alarming misinformation that scares parents.
  • Dr. Diane Arnaout says parents lack clinical experience to distinguish normal from concerning newborn signs.
ADVICE

Build A Practical Baby First-Aid Kit

  • Prepare a basic infant first-aid kit: bandages, Vaseline, diaper cream, acetaminophen, and an infant-safe nasal suction device.
  • Learn infant CPR and the infant Heimlich and consider anti-choking suction devices only as a last-resort tool.
ADVICE

Clear Baby Noses With Suction, Not Meds

  • Use a nasal suction device (with a filter) or electric aspirator to relieve infant nasal congestion.
  • For older children, consider saline rinses or neti pots, but avoid medicated cold remedies in infants.
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