Psychologist Warns of Risks from Passing Parenting Practices Down Through Generations

Jakarta (ANTARA) – Prof. Rose Mini Agoes Salim, a professor at the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Indonesia, has urged the public not to follow childcare practices passed down through generations without considering research findings and each child’s individual needs.

Rose said knowledge of child development continues to advance, meaning that practices once considered beneficial should be reassessed in light of scientific evidence and expert recommendations.

“We should use the best approach for a child based on research, facts and so on. We should not simply rely on practices handed down through generations, because what suits one person may not suit another child,” Rose told ANTARA by telephone from Jakarta on Tuesday.

She cited giving raw eggs or solid foods to babies who are not ready for them as examples. Such practices can pose health risks if they are not appropriate for a baby’s age and condition.

Rose added that every child has different needs, so parenting approaches cannot be applied uniformly to all families.

“There is no theory that can be applied exactly as it is to our own family. Sometimes it has to be adapted,” she said.

She said the experiences of parents and grandparents could still be taken into account when raising children. However, those experiences should be considered in line with the child’s circumstances and reliable health information.

Concerns about the safety of feeding babies emerged following reports that an infant in Surabaya had died after allegedly being given raw egg by a family member.

The Indonesian Paediatric Society (IDAI) has previously said raw or undercooked eggs should not be given to babies and children because of food-safety risks, including possible Salmonella contamination.

Understanding child development and nutritional needs is therefore important to ensure that childcare practices at home are safe and appropriate to an infant’s stage of development.