The Complete Guide to Feeding Your Baby

Back in World War II, when women needed to pitch in for the war effort (by showing up at factory jobs), bottle feeding was a pretty good invention. This is because while women were away from their homes, so were their milk-filled breasts. As an alternative they used homemade formula, mostly made from cow’s milk. But because a human baby’s digestive system is much more sensitive and delicate that a baby cow’s, baby humans had a very rough time digesting the cow milk.

And so companies racked their brains for a solution in trying to manufacture a substance that could compare to breastmilk. So how did they come up with the recipe for formula? Years of research funded by government grants to come up with the perfect baby food?

Nope! In fact, dairy farmers had been looking for a way to use the leftover whey they had (which is a byproduct of the production of milk, cheese and butter). At the same time, business men were looking for a cheap way to maximize profits in marketing a type of baby food that would compete with the homemade formulas at the time (and of course the natural breastfeeding method). They figured out that mixing whey with water and oil would allow them to feed babies without killing them. And so, the very first ingredient in baby formulas (after water) happened to be the waste product of the dairy industry. Whey.

Afterwards, manufacturers threw in some vitamins along with the whey, water and oils (which are generally, palm oil, soy oil or coconut oil, some of the cheapest oils out there) and dubbed the substance “Baby Formula”. Keep in mind that these same oils are drizzled all over movie theater popcorn and are commonly passed up by health conscious people!

Knowing this, I believe we need to reevaluate our perception of baby formula. Is it truly some magnificent human invention made with the mother and child’s best interest in mind? Or was it a quick fix during World war II that happened to turn into a giant industry? An industry that sells an artificial substance for pure profit despite how obviously inferior their substance is in comparison to natural breastmilk.

What so great about breastmilk? Although your baby will still grow and mature and perhaps even go to a prestigious college if he’s fed baby formula, there’s a big reason why doctors call breastmilk “white blood”.

Breastmilk isn’t just food. In fact, it’s actually closer to unstructured and living tissue (like blood) than it is to food. Breastmilk is chalk full of vitamins, white blood cells, antibodies, water, hormones, protein and other growth factors. It’s also abundant in certain ingredients that kill bacteria and viruses. In summary, breastmilk does exactly what the placenta did when your baby was in your womb. It offers the most perfect balance of everything needed for a baby to fully develop (physically and neurologically).

A baby’s brain is only a quarter complete at the time of birth. The other three quarters of the brain will grow well into their teenage years. But the most crucial brain development time happens in the first few years of the baby’s life. A lot of this growth is due to the different types of stimulation the baby gets from the mother: emotional, physical and neurological. But it also largely depends on what the baby eats.

The British Medical Journal Lancet punblished a conclusive study about 8-year-olds who were breastfed during their first month of life vs 8-year-olds who were fed formula. The breastfed children scored 8.3 points higher on IQ tests than their formula-fed counterparts. But that’s not all. Other studies not only confirm this, but also say that this number keeps going up the longer the child is breastfed. One study goes so far as to say that an additional 3 points (of IQ) should be added each additional month that the baby is breastfed (after the 6 month mark), all the way upto a year!

Scientists have identified over 300 components in breastmilk, and that is but a fraction of what is actually available in this “White blood”. They believe that breastmilk in its entirety strongly influences a baby’s brain, growth, and even behavior. It also strengthens and protects the child’s immune system, lessening and preventing some illnesses.

Scientists don’t call formula that: formula. They refer to it as ABM, or artificial baby milk. And that’s what it is. A manufactured, artificial, unnatural substance. In no way can it compare to the food your own body makes. Your body, the very same one that helped create and nurture a fetus and then birth an infant.

Ever since formula was invented it has been recognized that formula-fed babies are hospitalized ten times as often as breastfed babies. They also have twice as many visits to the doctor. They have more gastrointestinal and urinary tract infections.

On the other hand, breastfed babies can be protected from even genetic diseases. If your baby is a likely candidate for allergies, diabetes or asthma due to genes, breastmilk has actually been shown to either fully block the onslaught of such illnesses or at least minimize the effects.

But what about the mother? Are there any health advantages to consider?

Women who don’t breastfeed are more likely to suffer form osteoporosis, ovarian cancer and premenopausal breast cancer. However, women who breastfeed for even a measly three months significantly cut their risks for those terrible diseases. Studies also show that new breastfeeding mothers produce less stress-related hormones.

Here are a few things for you to consider when trying to decide whether or not you’d like to breastfeed your baby. For further information, feel free to read this article about breastfeeding.

1. Breastmilk is chalk full of nutrients that is not found anywhere else.
2. Formula fed babies see the doctor twice as much as breastfed babies. Breastmilk protects your child from all sorts of illnesses.
3. Breastmilk protects against potentially lifelong complications such as asthma and allergies.
4. Breastfed babies are four time less likely to be hospitalized for bacterial infections.
5. Breastfed babies are less likely to suffer from cancer, ear infections, SIDS, diabetes, dermatitis, diarrhea, liver diseases and other serious illnesses.
6. Babies that are breastfed are 40% less likely to have misaligned teeth (save on formula now, and braces later).
7. Breastmilk is a lot easier to digest than formula.
8. Breastmilk is always sterile and always the perfect temperature.
9. Research shows that formula fed babies gain too much weight which may translate into possible weight issues in the future. On the other hand, breastfed babies typically gain a healthy, normal amount of weight.
10. Studies continue to show that breastmilk is the “perfect brain food” during the first year of life and actually increases your baby’s IQ.
11. Breastfed babies tend to have better eyesight than their formula-fed counterparts.
12. Breastfeeding is one of the best ways to encourage bonding (between you and your baby). It’s a very warm and comforting feeling for both parties.
13. If you breastfeed your baby, you are less likely to stay home with a sick child in the future.
14. Breastfeeding actually improves your cleavage.
15. Breastmilk is cheaper than formula and a lot easier and faster to prepare.
16. Breastmilk is free.
17. Breastfeeding makes traveling more simple and less of a hassle.
18. If you breastfeed, your babies food is always packed and ready to go with you. No need to take that extra time to pack formula, measuring cups, rubber nipples and bottles.
19. If you choose to breastfeed, your baby will love you for it.
20. Breastfeeding may very well help you avoid unnecessary weight gain.
21. Breastfeeding helps your uterus contract and shrink back to its old shape a lot faster.
22. Breastmilk is GREEN! And you don’t even have to recycle it :)

Depending on when you have decided to introduce your baby to solid foods (usually around 4 to 6 months), you will want to make sure to purchase a high chair. This piece of baby equipment will see about a thousand uses a year, and truly makes life a little easier for all the baby care-takers out there.

Seeing as how it’s going to be used heavily, there are a few things you need to look for when purchasing a baby highchair. There are a large amount of high chairs to choose from, and they all vary in terms of durability, quality, safety, style and added features.

The most important question you should ask yourself is this: Where in your house will your baby’s highchair reside?

The kitchen? The dining room? Are these areas on the smaller side, and require a smaller high chair? Would it be beneficial to purchase a chair capable of folding up and storing away while not in use? Or do the rooms have quite enough room to accommodate a larger extra piece of equipment?

Once you have a general idea of the kind of highchair you’re looking for, be sure to check for the following characteristics.

---

QUALITY AND DURABILITY

1. Keep an eye out for a wide base. This ensures better stability.
2. Make sure all four legs of the high chair evenly touch the ground. You don’t want even the slightest bit of tipping or rocking.
3. Choose a highchair with a thick seat cover. This will better hold up to the many uses it will see.
4. If you’ve opted for a vinyl seat, make sure it has smooth and flat seams. You don’t want them sticking out and scratching against your baby’s legs. This is not only a quality issue, but also a safety issue.
5. For a folding high chair, make sure the hinges lock tightly into place, preventing the equipment from folding in on your baby.

SAFETY

1. Look for a sturdy, reliable harness. The best out there tends to have a five-point restraint. These secure the baby at the crotch, the waist and the shoulders.
2. If your preferred highchair does not have a strap at the crotch area, make sure there is at least a smooth, molded, centered post between the baby’s legs, as part of the seat itself. This will ensure that your baby does not squirm or slip under the tray.
3. Check and make sure there are no sharp edges underneath the tray; the whole thing should be smooth with no hanging or sharp parts.

---

EASE OF CLEANING

1. Look for a high chair with a removable tray. These are a hundred times easier to clean than ones molded to the chair itself. Some are even dishwasher safe!
2. If your baby’s highchair has a cloth seat cover, it should be removable and machine washable. If you prefer to simply wipe the seat cover down, make sure to go for wood or vinyl.
3. The fewer nooks and crannies there are in the overall design of the seat, the easier it will be to keep sanitary and clean.

---

EXTRA FEATURES
Aside from the main features listed above, there are a few additional features available in certain baby high chairs, which allow for the use of the same highchair even as your baby grows. These are:

• A large seating area
• Removable trays (to allow the baby to sit at the table with the rest of the family)
• Adjustable seating height (to accommodate different table heights)
• Adjustable footrest
• Multi-positioned back

---

For a baby constantly on-the-go, there are also portable high chairs which are designed to safely clip to just about any table. These are ideal for visits with grandma, friends, or in some cases a restaurant.

If you think this all through before buying a high chair, you will save yourself a lot of time and frustration, and possibly even the need to purchase a second (or different) high chair. The only thing left to do is to choose a style of highchair that compliments your own.

Although you can use your own, normal dinnerware and cutlery to feed your baby, it may be much easier on you and the little one if you invested in a few specific dishes.
[Read more →]