I DON’T find a good argument to support the claim that taking mothers’ advice on the care of newborn babies is out of date (Family Life, The Press, March 15).

The biggest worry today is that babies are born to mothers who are little more than children themselves, and often estranged from the support of mums and grannies.

I had five children and came from a family of seven. My mother and I in turn did all the same things this article promotes, and whisky on dummies was definitely not one of them.

Babies were placed on their tummies, with the head on one side after being fed and winded, so any tendency to regurgitate would not choke them.

The idea of allowing babies to decide when they had sufficient milk, be it breast or formula, has been around far longer than the writer of this article. The important thing is that mothers and babies are in close contact during feeding.

Eating liver was recommended, knowledge of causing abnormalities was not discovered at this time, so mum and grannie should not be blamed for that.

Bathing babies was not just about keeping them clean, but a wonderful opportunity to play and bond.

Home births were common and the district nurse was there to offer advice; much better than now when so many new mums don’t receive individual attention.

Margaret Vince, Bramham Grove, York.

• With reference to Lisa Salmon’s article, what an unfair, distorted description of a new grandmother. It made me very cross.

Where did Juliet Pollard get her information from? I would like to meet this ‘new Granny’. She must be a few hundred years old at least! As a so-called ‘new Granny’ I wouldn’t dream of giving such ridiculous advice.

The article was ageist, written to make anyone over the age of 50 feel alienated, and marginalised.

New Granny today is usually working, looking after her own family, caring for ageing parents, facebooking, twittering and babysitting the grandchildren.

Oh, and what about grandpa’s advice? Very important person to little cubs.

Gillian Ring, Howe Hill Road, York.