Do Blue Bedsheets Bring Babies?: The Truth Behind Old Wives' Tales

by Thomas J. Craughwell

Thomas Craughwell has spent a large portion of his life in the thrall of folklore and apocrypha. Taking a natural step from his urban legend expertise, he examines the "common wisdom" that moms everywhere pass along as truth to see if it is valid or if it should be ignored. Citing legitimate studies and scientific research, Craughwell identifies the useful and helpful, and offers enlightening theories on why these myths emerged in the first place–and where they went right or wrong. In many cases, you'll find the old wives were right on the money, even if their reasoning was half-baked.

Whimsically illustrated throughout, this entertaining and educational guide allows you to make informed decisions, whether it is slurping chicken soup to help a cold (it works), waiting for an hour after eating before swimming (not necessary), believing that a dog's tongue is cleaner than a human's (not true, yuck), or walking under a ladder (dangerous).


Mom always said...
1. Big feet—big "down below."
2. A woman carrying her baby high will have a girl.
3. Chicken soup helps you get over a cold.

Craughwell's verdict...
1. False. Guys with double-digit shoe sizes should stop bragging.
2. False. Knit a pair of blue booties, too, just in case....
3. True. Jewish grandmothers were right all along.

Genres: Folklore, Nonfiction

240 pages, Paperback

First published March 28, 2006

Reviews

[Red Spider · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book seems like a fascinating and fun read, especially for those curious about old wives' tales and their origins. Thomas Craughwell does an excellent job of separating fact from fiction, while also exploring why some myths persist. It's always interesting to learn which pieces of common wisdom have truth behind them.

When it comes to practical advice, though, if you're preparing your home for a baby, focusing on comfort is key, and choosing a Pure Cotton Bedsheet can make a big difference in ensuring soft and breathable bedding for both you and the baby.

[Amera Amer · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.5

[Taylor · Rating 3 out of 5]

Title says it all... not sure how reliable this is, and the tone of the answers isn't my favorite.

[Todd Van Meter · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very interesting and humorous detailling of various old wives tales, whether they are actually true or false, and why. I'll keep mine for future reference when arguing the truth or fallacy of these old wives tales and superstitions.

[Kat · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really, really interesting stuff. Sometimes the information was kind of expected... but other times it was jarring because things I learned as a child and never even considered questioning turned out to be false! All around fascinating!

[Dana · Rating 3 out of 5]

I love these types of books. This such a fun read. And I'm not telling you the answer ...

[Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

A well-written book on Old Wives tales and whether or not they're true. The author did an excellent job - it's well-researched with an excellent bibliography.

[Diane Dunham · Rating 5 out of 5]

Entertaining ideas that make you say Really?