> It is common in many societies for mothers to pre-chew the baby's food.
> It probably does not change any nutritional components of the food, but
> it does add salivary enzymes which begin the digestion of the food.
>
Common. perhaps; but certainly not advised. It also adds any and all of
mom's oral bacteria to the food. This has been identifeid as a major
source of beta-strep (amongst other bacterium) transmission to the older
infant in a number of Public Health studies. I recall Texas was the
first state to identify this as a public health problem as it is also a
culturally-specific practice as Dr. Jack mentions...

Respectfully submitted,
Katharine West, BSN, MPH
Sherman Oaks, CA