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Busted! 6 Truths About Childhood Myths

Crossed Eyes Will Stay that Way The myth states that if you cross your eyes, they'll stay that way (especially if someone slaps you on the back at the same time!) Although the muscles in your eyes can get tired if you cross them for an extended period of time, there is no medical evidence that suggests they will get stuck.

Wait an Hour After Eating to Swim A long held belief is that swimming immediately after eating can cause severe muscle cramping and, in extreme cases, drowning, since the body diverts its blood flow away from muscles to the digestive system. According to the American Red Cross, there is no set amount of time you should wait to swim, although it might feel a bit uncomfortable swimming on a full stomach.

Don't Go Outside with Wet Hair This myth claims that if you go outside with wet hair in the winter, you'll catch a cold. The truth is you can't catch a cold simply by feeling cold. A cold is a virus and is spread when an infected person sneezes or coughs.

Gum Stays in You for Seven Years If this myth were true, that wad of gum you swallowed in middle school would still be hanging out in your intestinal tract at your high school graduation. Thankfully, although a bit harder to break down than other foods, gum actually passes through your digestive system within a couple of days.

Warm Milk Will Put You to Sleep While it's true that milk contains tryptophan, a sleep-inducing amino acid, the amount is so small that you'd have to drink gallons of it in order to for it to have any kind of effect. In fact, tryptophan alone won't automatically put you to sleep — it needs the help of insulin-producing foods, like those high in carbohydrates, to have any effect. However, although warm milk won't technically put you to sleep, including it as part of a bedtime routine can help children to relax and, in turn, feel sleepy.

Sitting Too Close to the TV Is Bad for Your Eyes Although every parent has probably warned their children of this at one point in their lives, sitting too close to the television won't actually damage your eyes. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, kids can actually focus on objects up close with less eyestrain than adults. However, it can be a sign of nearsightedness, so it's best to have your child's eyes checked regularly.