Dear Friends:
One of the participants in a lactation course I taught last week in
California works in an infant car-seat program in her county. She described another
problem with fat babies and toddlers. They may weigh enough (over 40 pounds)
so that they technically don't require a carseat. This is dangerous because a
baby can't be safe without a carseat. A toddler won't sit still with just a
seat belt on. She has seen babies too fat to fit comfortably in car seats; she
described one baby that weighed 70 pounds (!) at the age of one year.
A fat baby has been a sign of health for millenia; we all know how
adorable and chubby a breastfed baby can be and how quickly they grow when
breastfeeding is going well. I suspect there is a combination of factors influencing
mothers who fed artificially. Firstly, there is this ancient and deep desire for
a plump baby, and secondly, there is a need to not waste formula (which is
expensive) so baby should finish the bottle.
There is also another way that artificial feeding can't compare. Babies
breastfeed for many reasons : food, drink, love, medicine, and entertainment.
The artificial method supplies at best only two (food and drink). Artificially
fed infants can only receive a bottle regardless of the reason. Consequently,
such babies will take in more food and drink than they need.
warmly,
Nikki Lee RN, MS, Mother of 2, IBCLC, CIMI, CCE, craniosacral therapy
Adjunct faculty, Union Institute and University, Maternal and Child Health:
Lactation Consulting
Supporting the WHO Code and the Mother Friendly Childbirth Initiative
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