The bad news is that babies get exposed to pesticides and other harmful chemicals during pregnancy and through their mothers’ milk. The good news is that all the research we have shows that mothers’ milk is best for babies despite this exposure. But I suspect most mothers would be happy to minimize that exposure if…
Category: Nutrition
Eating well
When we’re thinking about feeding babies the very best food – mother’s milk – we should also think about feeding the rest of the family well. One of my very favorite cookbook authors is Deborah Madison. She writes super tasty recipes for nutritious local foods. She also has written a book about eating alone —…
First Foods
According to an article in Pediatric News, it sounds like current research (and a soon to appear statement from the American Academy of Pediatrics Committee on Nutrition) supports offering meat, fruits, and vegetables as nutritious first foods. There is no good reason not to introduce meats, vegetables, and fruits as the first complementary foods, according…
In defense of (real) food
Check out this Colbert Report with Michael Pollan, the author of In Defense of Food. (I’m sorry that I’m not techno savvy enough to embed this video.) The cool thing is this: Pollan says, “We have been trying to synthesize breast milk for 150 years, and we still don’t know how to do it. And…
Fun with Food
In our culture when we think of baby’s first food we often think of giving baby rice cereal on a spoon. Gil Rapley is an author advocating a different approach: waiting until baby is old enough (about 6 months) and letting baby feed himself. Her guidelines also talk about safety and special circumstances (like a…
LLLI’s take on the new AAP vitamin D recommendations
This is from the La Leche League International press release last week: (October 16, 2008) Schaumburg, IL – La Leche League International encourages all mothers to recognize the importance of vitamin D to the health of their children. Recent research shows that due to current lifestyles, breastfeeding mothers may not have enough vitamin D in…
Eating Local
There’s been lots of buzz about the virtues of buying local — particularly buying (and eating) local foods. It’s reminded me that all of the things that are good about local food are at their very best with breastfeeding. Think about it: freshness, superior flavor (if you doubt me, try tasting some formula), no transportation…
Wheel Chairs and Formula
I recently saw an analogy comparing formula with wheelchairs. Wheelchairs are fantastic if you can’t walk. When my oldest son was a toddler, he thought the rows of wheelchairs at the hospital entrance were the coolest thing ever. But no one would suggest that wheelchairs are just as good as walking or that everyone should…
Madison Breastfeeding Help 