Rob says,

<< There are cases of rickets and vitamin D =
 deficiency in breastfed babies.
 This really isn't a breastfeeding issue, it a sun light issue.
 As I ask parents I find a lot of babies who spend little time out doors.
 It seems to me the issue looks to be one of breastfeeding as formulas have =
 sufficient Vit D.=20
 The tip should probably be to get sufficient sun light or use a supplement.
>>

I've said this before -- I think this is a MAJOR problem.  Mothers bring
their babies to see me -- a gorgeous, warm, sunny day, and the baby has a
blanket over her while strapped into the car seat.  These babies never see
the light of day except through a window until they are old enough and cranky
enough to beg to be out of the bucket when going for a walk.  Moms don't
carry their babies like we used to.  There is a reason for the increased
rickets, and it is NOT because breastmilk is deficient in Vitamin D, but
because we are terrified of the sun.

Americans never do anything 1/2 way.  With the "back to sleep" campaign,
mothers now won't put their babies on their tummies for any reason at all, so
the babies now are developmentally delayed in turning from front to back and
gaining strength in their upper arms.  When they said that too much alcohol
during pregnancy can cause FAS, then it was translated to NO alcohol ever.
Sun can cause skin cancer -- no sun EVER for babies.  Too much bilirubin can
cause kernicterus, so we went through a phase where babies were put under
bililights when it was 12 on day 3.

I think we need to begin teaching our moms that babies HAVE to get out in the
daylight (not direct sunlight), and don't need to be covered from top to toe
all the time.  I recently chatted about this w/ a mom that came in for a
consult w/ her baby covered up, and they went out with the blanket in her
hand (and the baby in the bucket.  Sigh).

Jan in sunny & warm Wheaton

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