Comments on: Big City Moms’ Event Prepared Moms to Make Healthy Decision http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/10/big-city-moms-event-prepared-moms-to-make-healthy-decision/ Beating the Breastfeeding Booby Traps! Wed, 08 Sep 2010 08:34:31 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Alan Greene http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/10/big-city-moms-event-prepared-moms-to-make-healthy-decision/comment-page-1/#comment-579 Alan Greene Wed, 06 Jan 2010 19:55:54 +0000 http://www.bestforbabes.org/?p=994#comment-579 My take on the best timing to start solid foods is different than what I’ve seen elsewhere. It depends on what kids are taking before that first bite of solids. Breast-fed babies are already getting perfect, complex real food. Not only does breast milk provide ideal nutrient building blocks, provide ideal immune building blocks, provide an ideal closeness with Mom, and provide the greenest feeding choice imaginable, but it also provides a myriad of subtly different flavor combinations — helping to teach the baby to enjoy variety and to enjoy the foods that Mom eats. I suggest exclusive breastfeeding until babies vigorously demand solids, usually about 6 months (watching the baby for cues, not the calendar). Continuing breastfeeding in addition to solids remains valuable long after the first birthday. Formula-fed babies, though, are getting a simple, processed food that addresses only the main nutrient needs we understand so far. I’m grateful we have them for when needed, but the babies are exposed to only one flavor profile, again and again for months on end. I suggest starting real food much earlier for these babies, when they demonstrate strong interest in what Mom is eating — usually around 4 months. This gives them complex nutrients for building blocks now and extends the window of flavor-preference learning before Neophobia (a phase of suspicion of new foods) sets in with toddlerhood. Delaying or avoiding any real food beyond 4 to 6 months has never been shown to decrease allergies. Rather, I suggest avoiding the most allergenic foods when a child is taking antibiotics or when the gut is otherwise inflamed, as from illness. My take on the best timing to start solid foods is different than what I’ve seen elsewhere. It depends on what kids are taking before that first bite of solids.

Breast-fed babies are already getting perfect, complex real food. Not only does breast milk provide ideal nutrient building blocks, provide ideal immune building blocks, provide an ideal closeness with Mom, and provide the greenest feeding choice imaginable, but it also provides a myriad of subtly different flavor combinations — helping to teach the baby to enjoy variety and to enjoy the foods that Mom eats. I suggest exclusive breastfeeding until babies vigorously demand solids, usually about 6 months (watching the baby for cues, not the calendar). Continuing breastfeeding in addition to solids remains valuable long after the first birthday.

Formula-fed babies, though, are getting a simple, processed food that addresses only the main nutrient needs we understand so far. I’m grateful we have them for when needed, but the babies are exposed to only one flavor profile, again and again for months on end. I suggest starting real food much earlier for these babies, when they demonstrate strong interest in what Mom is eating — usually around 4 months. This gives them complex nutrients for building blocks now and extends the window of flavor-preference learning before Neophobia (a phase of suspicion of new foods) sets in with toddlerhood.

Delaying or avoiding any real food beyond 4 to 6 months has never been shown to decrease allergies. Rather, I suggest avoiding the most allergenic foods when a child is taking antibiotics or when the gut is otherwise inflamed, as from illness.

]]> By: Bettina http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/10/big-city-moms-event-prepared-moms-to-make-healthy-decision/comment-page-1/#comment-276 Bettina Tue, 20 Oct 2009 17:02:56 +0000 http://www.bestforbabes.org/?p=994#comment-276 @Kathy -- Dr. Greene may have changed his recommendation in his new book. He distinctly said at the event that breastfeeding babies should not get solids until 6 months, which is in line with major respected health recommendations. The way he explained it, breastfeeding babies get so many flavors and awesome nutrition from breastfeeding that they don't need early introduction of solids. @Kathy — Dr. Greene may have changed his recommendation in his new book. He distinctly said at the event that breastfeeding babies should not get solids until 6 months, which is in line with major respected health recommendations. The way he explained it, breastfeeding babies get so many flavors and awesome nutrition from breastfeeding that they don’t need early introduction of solids.

]]> By: Amber McCann http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/10/big-city-moms-event-prepared-moms-to-make-healthy-decision/comment-page-1/#comment-244 Amber McCann Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:44:30 +0000 http://www.bestforbabes.org/?p=994#comment-244 As a lactation counselor and someone who works closely with women who have had breast cancer (www.womansplaceonmain.com), I'm thrilled about the studies connecting breastfeeding and a lower risk of breast cancer. I see the direct effects! I so love what you are doing with this site and organization. Keep up the good work! As a lactation counselor and someone who works closely with women who have had breast cancer (www.womansplaceonmain.com), I’m thrilled about the studies connecting breastfeeding and a lower risk of breast cancer. I see the direct effects!

I so love what you are doing with this site and organization. Keep up the good work!

]]> By: Kathy http://www.bestforbabes.org/2009/10/big-city-moms-event-prepared-moms-to-make-healthy-decision/comment-page-1/#comment-243 Kathy Wed, 14 Oct 2009 13:38:51 +0000 http://www.bestforbabes.org/?p=994#comment-243 Hmm, I looked at Dr. Greene's website and he doesn't seem to have ay different ideas on solids than the usual line of 4-6 months, start with rice, then green vegetables etc. He even said some babies can start as early as 3 months since their caloric needs increase at that point. Hmm,

I looked at Dr. Greene’s website and he doesn’t seem to have ay different ideas on solids than the usual line of 4-6 months, start with rice, then green vegetables etc. He even said some babies can start as early as 3 months since their caloric needs increase at that point.

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