I can't attest to the accuracy and comprehensiveness of this information
,as I was listening while my kids did after-breakfast calisthenics in my
lap. To give credit where due, I'll list (what I thought were) the good
points then the bad points.
Dr Alvin Eden (spelled?) is Chairman of Peds at Whitecliff
Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY, USA. He was a guest on the
National Public Radio show "Parent's Journal" on Monday Jan 19 on KUSU in
Utah.
"Positive Points, But Just Barely - in Sally's :) Opinion"
- working and BF is possible
- you can BF past a year
- solid foods too early is a problem. when he was first a practicing
Dr, cereal at 1-2 weeks was common. He recommends never before 2 MONTHS
:(
- overfeeding can be a problem with solid foods too early because they
can't refuse when satiated
- overfeeding can also result when formula feeding: one benefit of BF is
that "there are no ounces marked on the breast"
- stay away from citrus and cow's milk the first year
- "optimal nutrition is very important - it's an insurance policy for
future health"
- breastmilk's iron is very well absorbed
"Points that don't Reflect the Best Understanding of BF - in
Sally's Opinion"
- "formula is very close to Bmilk in nutrient content" - more
specifically, the 'we don't want to cause guilt for formula use' argument
- the "maximum immunity benefit" of BF is realized by 3 MONTHS (that
can't be true, can it???)
- regarding working and BF:
-it's a myth that baby won't get used to the difference between
Bmilk and formula, or that baby might become confused by nipples
-if it's too difficult to store expressed Bmilk while at work,
just throw it out
-this is a good time for father to participate in feedings while
mom is at work, and at night
- interviewer asked "is there a window of opportunity for weaning" at
around a year? Dr answered NO, and it may cause some unhappiness for the
baby, but he didn't feel that was a real problem
- AAP recommendation for solid food intro is 4-6 months (I wonder if
this was an old show), but for a "really huge baby, who is taking huge
amounts of milk, with a huge appetite," foods may begin at 3 months
- regarding foods too low in iron and poor nutrition (but no mention of
BF), "We don't want to lose any IQ points"
Not once did he *recommend* BF beyond year, or the *overwhelming
superiority* of Bmilk. Among all the problems in infant and toddler
nutrition that he mentioned (too much juice and cow's milk, small
appetites, picky eaters, iron-deficiency anemia, foods with too much
salt, and IQ) all could be ameliorated, if not *solved* by BF through the
toddler years.
For more info/comments: Parent's Journal, PO Box 20306,
Charleston, NC, 29413. email: [log in to unmask]
Since I heard this on the radio, and didn't read it, I don't know if
there is an ' in theparent'sjournal.
Hope this information hasn't been a needless repetition.
Nomail, but Interested in your remarks,
Sally Bishop, LLLL, WIC PC in Utah
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