FEEDING INFANTS

Resources: Nourish Traditions by Sally Fallon

Whole Foods for Babies & Toddlers by Margaret Kenda

1. Breastfeeding is Best for Baby

perfectly designed for baby's physical and mental development.

more robust, more intelligent and freer from allergies and other complaints, especially intestinal difficulties, than those on formula.

helps guard him against colds, flu, polio, staph infections and viruses.

2. Quality of Mother’s Milk Relies on her Diet

Animal products will ensure proper amounts of vitamins and minerals in her milk.

Whole milk products and stock made from bones ensure that her baby receives adequate calcium.

Organic foods of both plant and animal origin to avoid toxins and chemicals in her milk. Also provide healthy fats needed for baby's optimal development.

Avoid refined fats as these cause decreased visual acuity and learning difficulties in the infant.

3. Breast vs. Bottle

Breast-feeding should ideally be continued for six months to a year. If mother's milk is not adequate or of good quality, or if the mother is unable to breast feed for whatever reason, a homemade baby formula, rather than a commercial formula, can be used.

4. Breast is Best Commercial infant formulas

composed of milk or soy powdersproduced by high-temperature processes damage proteins and add many carcinogens.

Contains added, refined sugars. Milk-based formulas often cause allergies Soy-based formulas

contain compounds that can have adverse effects on the infant’s hormonal development and ability to obtain needed nutrients from formula

devoid of cholesterol, needed for the development of the baby’s brain and nervous system.

Replacement for Breast milk:A very serious decision

Resources:

5. Nursing Mothers Need Support

Nursing a baby is a privilege

Encourage mothers to nurse and be accepting of nursing in public places

Provide mothers support at the work place to continue nursing

Support policies that encourage women to nurse their babies (maternity leave)

6. First Solid Food

Around age 6 months, lightly-cooked egg yolk Then very ripe, mashed banana Around age 10 months: pureed cooked meats,

vegetables and fruits, introduced one at a time. Sweet potatoes, carrots and turnips, cooked and

mashed with butter and a little sea salt Earliest solid foods should be animal foods as

baby’s digestive system, although immature, is better equipped to supply enzymes for digestion of fats and proteins rather than carbohydrates.

7. Homemade Baby Food is Best

Can be easily cooked and pureed at home

First cook single vegetables and meats, season with a little sea

salt and puree with water to the consistency appropriate for baby

8. Caution Foods

Grains should be avoided for the first year because the baby’s digestive system lack the enzyme (amylase) necessary for digestion

Commercial juices since they are pasteurized making them only a source of sugar

9. Commercial Baby Foods

Often contains filler ingredients, flavor enhancers and sugar

Have been over-cooked which lowers their nutritional value and damages nutrients

Is much more expensive than using homemade foods from home

Quality of ingredients are unknown

10. Final Suggestions

Keep infants away from process, refined foods as long as possible

Doing so will allow them to develop a taste for real foods and less likely to develop a taste for the flavor-enhanced refined foods

Starting infants on whole foods lays the foundation for a healthy life