A lot of misinformation is spread online over (the care of) young children. To prevent that, a group of pediatricians and medical students have set up the baby doctors. Nu.nl spoke with two members of the team, who makes explanation videos for young parents on Instagram and Tiktok with the help of experts.
Pediatrician Ineke de Kruijff has been working in her consultation room for some time refuting misinformance. In her more than twenty years as a pediatrician, she spoke to many parents who have questions when they first have a child. Logical, she thinks. “And especially when their baby is sick. The parents want to do something about it as quickly as possible.”
According to De Kruijff, an example of misinformation is that the so -called hidden reflux is a reason for concern. At Reflux, the stomach contents returns to the esophagus. With hidden reflux, a baby would not spit the content. But that is very normal: every baby sometimes has that.
Being extra alert to that hidden reflux is nonsense, says De Kruijff. According to the pediatrician you cannot treat it with a pill and a baby simply has to grow over it. “But parents have read something online somewhere and then enter into discussion with us.”
The internet is a blessing, but sometimes also a curse. According to De Kruijff, there is a lot of information about young children who simply incorrect. To refute that misinformation, she uses social media, because more and more young parents get their information there.
Together with another pediatrician, she founded the social media platform De Babydoctors. Together with two medical students and two physician assistants, the duo provides information about children from zero to two years.
Use facts against misinformation
De Kruijff is well that the group also consists of two young students. “You don’t have to let me make a tap video,” says the pediatrician laughy. Her own task lies in giving information. This way you get a nice combination, she thinks. “Our information must be correct, but it must also be nice to look at.”
For the latter, the pediatrician is only too happy to look at team member Alysha de Moor. As a sixth -year medical student, De Moor has already gained a lot of knowledge of the subject. In addition, she records videos or puts them together. “That way we want to reduce the gap between parents and professionals,” says De Moor.
De Kruijff and De Moor see misinformation about both innocent and more serious topics. According to De Moor, something innocent is that someone thought that lubricating a certain oil under her child’s feet would help against a cold. “But there is no evidence at all that that oil helps with that. It may be well intended, but it remains wrong information.”
A little less innocent, according to the medical student, dates from the coronation time. “At that time there were critical statements about vaccinations. Also by influencers, who are not connoisseurs in that area,” says De Moor. She finds that medically irresponsible. Parents can then be given the idea not to have their children vaccinated anymore. “While measles and whooping cough vaccinations are very important for children.”
In order to be able to offer reliable information, the baby doctors call in all kinds of experts. Scientific studies or own experiences are also cited. The videos are about topics such as allergies, sleep and air quality. It is important for De Kruijff that this is brought to people in a bite -sized way.
Looking critically at online information
The ideas for the videos come in in different ways at the baby doctors: via question blocks on Instagram, private messages from followers, from the consultation room or from the immediate area. According to De Kruijff, the advantage of social media lies in direct contact with the target group. “Now you choose topics that the target group itself finds important.”
The baby doctors cannot answer all questions. “Some questions are aimed at one specific topic. In that case we can always present it to other colleagues,” says De Moor. According to the student, it is important that parents remain critical of what they read online.
With questions, according to De Moor you can always contact your doctor. Parents with newborn babies are also always invited to the consultation office. Here they can go with their questions about their child. “Or ask us questions.”
Online, a lot of misinformation is spread about (The Care of) Young Children. To counter this, a group of pediatricians and medical student founded the baby doctors. Nu.nl Spoke with Two Members of the Team, which creates explanatory Videos for Young Parents on Instagram and Tiktok with the help of experts.
Pediatrician Ineke de Kruijff Has Been Working to Refute Misinformation in Her Consulting Room for Some Time. In her more than twenty years as a pediatrician, she has spoken to many parents who have questions when they have a child for the first time. Logical, She Thinks. “And eSpeciate When Their Baby is sick. The parents because to do something about it as quickly as Possible.”
Accordance to de Kruijff, an Example of Misinformation is that so-called silent reflux is a reason for concern. With reflux, The Stomach Contents Come Back Into the Esophagus. With silent reflux, a baby would not spit out the contents. But that is very normal: every baby has that sometimes.
Being Extra Alert to that Silent Reflux is Therefore Nonsense, Says de Kruijff. Accordance to the pediatrician, you cannot treat it with a pill and a baby simply has to grow out of it. “But Parents have read something online somewhere and then start arguing with us.”
The Internet is a blessing, but sometimes also a curse. Accordance to De Kruijff, there is a lot of information to be found about Young children that is simply not correct. To refute that misinformation, She uses social media, because it is young parents get their information from there.
Together with Another Pediatrician, She Founded the Social Media Platform The Babydoctors. Together with Two Medical Students and Two Assistant Doctors, The Duo Provides Information about children from Zero to Two Years.
Using facts against misinformation
It suits de Kruijff Well that the Group also consists of two young students. “Don’t let me make a tap video,” Says the pediatrician laughingly. Her Own Task is Therefore to Provide Information. That way you get a nice combination, she thinks. “Our information must be correct, but it must also be fun to watch.”
For the latter, the pediatrician likes to look at Team Member Alysha de Moor. As a Sixth-Year Medical Student, the Moor Has Already Gained a Lot of Knowledge of the Subject. In Addition, She Records Videos or Puts Them Together. “This is how we want to bridge the gap between parents and professionals,” Says de Moor.
De Kruijff and De Moor See Misinformation About Both Innocent and More Serious Subjects. Something Innocent is, Accordance to the Moor, that Someone Thought that Smaring a Certain Oil Under Her Child’s Feet would help Against a Cold. “But there is no evidence that that oil helps. It may be well-intentioned, but it remains incorrect information.”
Something Less Innocent Comes from the Corona era, Accordination to the Medical Student. “There were critical statements about vaccinations at the time. Also by influencers, who are not experts in that area,” Says de Moor. She bels that medically irresponsible. Parents can then get the idea not to have their children vaccinated anymore. “While Measles and Whooping Cough Vaccinations Are Very Important For Children.”
In order to be able to sacrifice Reliable Information Themselves, The Babydoctors Involve All Kinds of Experts. Scientific research or own experiences are also cited. The Videos Are About Topics Such As Allergies, Sleep And Air Quality. It is Important for De Kruijff that this is brought to the people in an easy-to-digest way.
Looking Critically at Online Information
The Ideas for the Videos Come to the Babydoctors in Various Ways: Via Question Boxes on Instagram, Private Messages From Followers, From the Consulting Room or the Immediate Environment. Accordance to De Kruijff, The Advantage of Social Media Lies in the Direct Contact With The Target Group. “Now you Choose Topics That the Target Group Itself Finds Important.”
The Babydoctors Cannot Answer All Questions. “Some questions are focused on one specific topic. In that case, we can always submit it to Other Colleagues,” Says de Moor. Accordance to the student, it is important that parents remain criticalal of what they read online.
If you have any questions, you can always contact your doctor, accordance to the moor. Parents with newborn babies are also always invited to the consultation office. Here they can also go with their questions about Their child. “Or Ask Us Your Questions.”