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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

• 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

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.

UTENSILS

If you were to only buy one thing geared towards a baby’s introduction to solid food, it should definitely be a special spoon (or fork). These spoons generally have soft tips that are a lot gentler on a child’s gums, and are also just the right size. These spoons are quite manageable and allow for just the perfect amount of food to be taken with each bite, reducing the risk of choking.

For mother’s who tend to worry about the temperature of food and whether or not it is still too hot for their baby, manufacturers have come out with a temperature-mindful spoon. These spoons offer a visual warning, in the form of color change, when the substance is in need of additional cooling before you offer it to your precious child.

For the mom-on-the-go, there are plastic, disposable, PVC-free baby spoons available. These can be easily packed into a diaper bag, and are ideal for travelling or other situations in which you may not have access to washing-water. They are also great substitutions to forget in the next city (or state!) over, as opposed to losing a special baby spoon.

When it’s time to teach your baby how to feed herself, there is going to be a lot of frustration on her end. Once she learns to grip the spoon and get some food on it, she’ll then have to learn to keep that food on the spoon until it reaches her mouth. This learning process can take some time, and your baby will very likely get upset and throw a few tantrums here and there. Help her out! Consider buying a baby spoon (or fork) with a thick, easy-to-grip, short, plastic handle. These utensils are made to be more easily utilized by tiny, uncoordinated hands.

Some baby self-feeding spoons go even further. Aside from the soft tip, the thick, short handle and the easy-grip feature, these spoons are specifically designed to keep the food on the spoon longer. So regardless of the angle of the spoon, or whether or not your child is able to hold it properly from the start, these types of spoons will really help your baby succeed in her Self Feeding mission.

Baby bibs are no doubt an essential part of a mother’s quest to save time, dignity and effort in taking care of a baby. So it’s no surprise that there is a large variety of these items on the market today. From the traditional around-the-neck bib, to full-blown shirts designed to work as a bib, there is no shortage of options to consider for the searching mother.

One of the few things to think and decide upon regarding a bib is the fastening device. Does it utilize a button, velcro strips or a snap? Is it located at the back of the neck or on the side?

If you are one of those mother’s who dreads the small, pending battle of securing or unsecuring a bib to the back of your baby’s neck, you may much prefer bibs that fasten to the side (on a shoulder), or simply slip over the head.

Bibs that fasten with velcro strips can be such a pain to some mother’s. This is because the velcro strips tend to get caught in and damage certain materials of clothing as well as the baby’s hair. Thankfully, bibs that utilize buttons and snaps are widespread, and they are the perfect solution.

Some women find that a bib will flip over their baby’s face when he decides to pick up his arms (in order to feed himself, or simply chew on a toy to soothe his teething gums). They’ve also had to race to rescue their baby from the bib covering his nose and mouth anytime he decided to lay down with it on. For this problem, certain manufacturers have come out with baby bibs that stay put, most of which are designed as shirts or simple pull-over-the-head towels.

For new mother’s who are just building up their supply of burp cloths, a safe and adequate supply would be around 25 cloths. This is due to the fact that newborn babies are quite efficient at burping up a substantial mess regularly, and sometimes more than one burp cloth may be needed for a single feeding. However, as the baby grows older, spitting up becomes less and less common, freeing up the numerous amount of burp cloths for things such as wiping dirty faces, or cleaning up after a child who is just being introduced to solid foods.

Sealing Discs: Convert your baby bottle into a storage container for your milk or baby formula. This is great for mother’s who utilize a breast pump and need to store the expressed milk.

Baby Formula Dispensers: Ingenious for active mothers and baby’s on-the-go! These containers usually have 3 or more seperate sections where you pre-measure the needed formula for each feeding. When your baby starts demanding food, you simply pour one measured section into the baby bottle and voila! No need for mess and measuring at the most inopportune times.

Baby Formula Mixers: These battery powered hand mixers are long and thin, designed to fit right into your baby’s bottle. There is a small, plastic whisk at the end which ensures that no lumps remain in the liquid. Perfect for on-the-go families and easy to clean up!

Nipple and Bottle Brushes: It’s pretty hard to get a normal sized sponge to fit into a baby bottle, nevermind the tip of a bottle’s nipple. For those of us who don’t believe vigorously shaking a bottle filled with hot, soapy water is enough, these little gadgets are a wonderful tool.