Feeding Baby

Re: Needing Suggestions for What should a 6 month old baby eat?

Laura gave some really great suggestions.
It may also help to pay attention to how the baby reacts after you eat certain foods and then breast feed.
My now 11 year old, was breastfed until she was 9 months. However, at around seven months I started replacing one feeding with soft cooked and pureed veggies of the sorts that Laura recommended, except for cabbage. I did not use that because my experience was that whenever I fed her after eating it, she got cranky and gassy. The other thing was codfish which I love with greens. Well, she was actually allergic to it. Still is in fact. Another thing I did was not to introduce too many things at once. I kept phasing in each food item one at a time while reducing the breast milk until she was weaned. Considering she was a high risk pregnancy and was born early, she did quite well that way until she started eating full meals. At about 2 and a half she had such bad allergies and asthma that her doctor recommended we eliminate gluten/casein and most fruits. And that was before we knew all about the diet, detox stuff.


Brainwave.
 
Re: Needing Suggestions for What should a 6 month old baby eat?

Personally, I'm a fan of Weston Price diets, and, of course, I'm going to say that I had great success with their suggestions for children – he just snarfed those foods down! My boy had/has a broad face, a sign of good bone health and nutrition. I know their dietary recommendations do not entirely sync up with detox diets, so stand forwarded, they have a high emphasis on raw dairy, with some soaked gluten grains.

The Weston Price premise is that pan-cultural, pre-industrial first foods are protein/fat based to match the digestive enzymes that pre-exist from eating breastmilk, not grain (thank goodness no one recommended those boxed cereal powders that are commonly recommended in the States as first “foods”).

At 6 months I started him on a homemade formula (in addition to fruits mashed with breast milk). I'll insert the recipes and ideas for first foods, also those hand grinders are the best too. Incidentally, your baby is probably going through their 6 mo growth spurt, that’s why he/she seems to have a bottomless appetite! Good luck & belated congratulations on the birth of your wonderful child and this great new adventure!!!!!!!!


_http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/317-nourishing-a-growing-baby.html

Nourishing a Growing Baby


Breast or Bottle

Numerous studies support the benefits of breastfeeding. For example, breastfed babies tend to be more robust, intelligent and free of allergies and other complaints like intestinal difficulties.1 Other studies have shown that breastfed infants have reduced rates of respiratory illnesses and ear infections.2,3 Some researchers believe breastfed infants have greater academic potential than formula-fed infants, which is thought to be due to the fatty acid DHA found in mother's milk and not in most US formulas.4
However, other studies show the opposite. In 2001, a study found breastfed children had more asthma than bottle-fed.5 A Swedish study found that breastfed infants were just as likely to develop childhood ear infections6 and childhood cancer as formula-fed babies.7

So, what is best for baby? It comes down to nutrition! Hands down, healthy breast milk is perfectly designed for baby's physical and mental development, but this is only true when mom supplies her body with the right nutrients.

The typical modern diet is filled with products based on sugar, white flour, additives and commercial fats and oils, which do not nourish and build. The proper nutrients are necessary to create breast milk that will provide all a growing baby needs. These include good quality proteins from foods such as grass-fed meats and organ meats, good quality fats from butter, coconut oil, olive oil, cod liver oil and egg yolks, as well as complex carbohydrate-rich foods like vegetables, whole grains and legumes--think whole food, natural and seasonal, with a big emphasis on healthy fat.

Bottom line, in a perfect world, with perfect nutrition, every woman would breastfeed. Unfortunately, we don't live in a perfect world. What about low milk supply, an unwell mother or adoption? Luckily, it is possible to make a wholesome whole food baby formula. (See FAQs on Homemade Baby Formula.)

After (or With) the Breast or Bottle

Ideally, breastfeeding should be maintained for a year, with a goal of six months for working mothers. The first year of life requires a full spectrum of nutrients, including fats, protein, cholesterol, carbohydrates, vitamins and minerals. Once breast milk is no longer the sole source of these nutrients, where should one go?

There are three concepts to keep in mind. First, make your little one a "whole foods baby"! Avoid processed and refined foods as much as possible, including many brands of baby food; they are usually devoid of nutrients and have added "undesirables." It is always best to make your own baby food from organic, whole foods. (You can freeze it in one-serving sizes for later use.) Better-quality, additive-free, prepared brands of baby food, like Earth's Best, do exist, but it is still better to make your own baby food to be assured of the quality--plus making baby food puts mom on the right track for home food preparation for the years to come.

Second, go slowly and be observant; every baby will have an individual response to different foods. Introduce new foods one at a time and continue to feed that same food for at least four days to rule out the possibility of a negative reaction. Signs of intolerance include redness around the mouth; abdominal bloating, gas and distention; irritability, fussiness, over-activity and awaking throughout the night; constipation and diarrhea; frequent regurgitation of foods; nasal and/or chest congestion; and red, chapped or inflamed eczema-like skin rash.8

Finally, respect the tiny, still-developing digestive system of your infant. Babies have limited enzyme production, which is necessary for the digestion of foods. In fact, it takes up to 28 months, just around the time when molar teeth are fully developed, for the big-gun carbohydrate enzymes (namely amylase) to fully kick into gear. Foods like cereals, grains and breads are very challenging for little ones to digest. Thus, these foods should be some of the last to be introduced. (One carbohydrate enzyme a baby's small intestine does produce is lactase, for the digestion of lactose in milk.1)

Foods introduced too early can cause digestive troubles and increase the likelihood of allergies (particularly to those foods introduced). The baby's immature digestive system allows large particles of food to be absorbed. If these particles reach the bloodstream, the immune system mounts a response that leads to an allergic reaction. Six months is the typical age when solids should be introduced,9,10,11 however, there are a few exceptions.

Babies do produce functional enzymes (pepsin and proteolytic enzymes) and digestive juices (hydrochloric acid in the stomach) that work on proteins and fats.12 This makes perfect sense since the milk from a healthy mother has 50-60 percent of its energy as fat, which is critical for growth, energy and development.13 In addition, the cholesterol in human milk supplies an infant with close to six times the amount most adults consume from food.13 In some cultures, a new mother is encouraged to eat six to ten eggs a day and almost ten ounces of chicken and pork for at least a month after birth. This fat-rich diet ensures her breast milk will contain adequate healthy fats.14

Thus, a baby's earliest solid foods should be mostly animal foods since his digestive system, although immature, is better equipped to supply enzymes for digestion of fats and proteins rather than carbohydrates.1 This explains why current research is pointing to meat (including nutrient-dense organ meat) as being a nourishing early weaning food.

Is Cereal the Best First Food?

Remember, the amount of breast milk and/or formula decreases when solid foods are introduced. This decrease may open the door for insufficiencies in a number of nutrients critical for baby's normal growth and development. The nutrients that are often in short supply when weaning begins include protein, zinc, iron and B-vitamins. One food group that has these nutrients in ample amounts is meat.
Unfortunately, cereal is the most often recommended early weaning food. A recent Swedish study suggests that when infants are given substantial amounts of cereal, they may suffer from low concentrations of zinc and reduced calcium absorption.15

In the US, Dr. Nancy Krebs headed up a large infant growth study that found breastfed infants who received puréed or strained meat as a primary weaning food beginning at four to five months grew at a slightly faster rate. Kreb's study suggests that inadequate protein or zinc from common first foods may limit the growth of some breastfed infants during the weaning period. More importantly, both protein and zinc levels were consistently higher in the diets of the infants who received meat.16 Thus, the custom of providing large amounts of cereals and excluding meats before seven months of age may short-change the nutritional requirements of the infant.17

Meat is also an excellent source of iron. Heme iron (the form of iron found in meat) is better absorbed than iron from plant sources (non-heme). Additionally, the protein in meat helps the baby more easily absorb iron from other foods.18 Two recent studies19,20 have examined iron status in breastfed infants who received meat earlier in the weaning period. While researchers found no measurable change in breastfed babies' iron stores when they received an increased amount of meat, the levels of hemoglobin (iron-containing cells) circulating in the bloodstream did increase. Meat also contains a much greater amount of zinc than cereals, which means more is absorbed.21 These studies confirm the practices of traditional peoples, who gave meat--usually liver--as the first weaning food. Furthermore, the incidence of allergic reactions to meat is minimal and lower still when puréed varieties are used.17,22,23,24

Don't Fear Fats!

Pediatric clinicians have known for some time that children fed low-fat and low-cholesterol diets fail to grow properly. After all, a majority of mother's milk is fat, much of it saturated fat. Children need high levels of fat throughout growth and development. Milk and animal fats give energy and also help children build muscle and bone.1 In addition, the animal fats provide vitamins A and D necessary for protein and mineral assimilation, normal growth and hormone production.27

Choose a variety of foods so your child gets a range of fats, but emphasize stable saturated fats, found in butter, meat and coconut oil, and monounsaturated fats, found in avocados and olive oil.

Foods to Introduce

Egg yolks, rich in choline, cholesterol and other brain-nourishing substances, can be added to your baby's diet as early as four months,1 as long as baby takes it easily. (If baby reacts poorly to egg yolk at that age, discontinue and try again one month later.) Cholesterol is vital for the insulation of the nerves in the brain and the entire central nervous system. It helps with fat digestion by increasing the formation of bile acids and is necessary for the production of many hormones. Since the brain is so dependent on cholesterol, it is especially vital during this time when brain growth is in hyper-speed.25 Choline is another critical nutrient for brain development. The traditional practice of feeding egg yolks early is confirmed by current research. A study published in the June 2002 issue of the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition compared the nutritional effects of feeding weaning infants 6-12 months of age regular egg yolks, enriched egg yolks, and an otherwise normal diet. The researchers found that both breastfed and formula-fed infants who consumed the egg yolks had improved iron levels when compared with the infants who did not. In addition, those infants who got the egg yolks enriched with extra fatty acids had 30 percent to 40 percent greater DHA levels than those fed regular egg yolks. No significant effect on blood cholesterol levels was seen.26

Thus, the best choice for baby is yolks from pasture-fed hens raised on flax meal, fish meal, or insects since they will contain higher levels of DHA. Why just the yolk? The white is the portion that most often causes allergic reactions, so wait to give egg whites until after your child turns one.1,11

Don't neglect to put a pinch of salt on the egg yolk. While many books warn against giving salt to babies, salt is actually critical for digestion as well as for brain development. Use unrefined sea salt to supply a variety of trace minerals.

Around four months is a good time to start offering cod liver oil, which is an excellent source of the omega-3 fatty acids DHA and EPA (also important for brain develoment) as well as vitamins A and D. Start with a 1/4 teaspoon of high-vitamin cod liver oil or 1/2 teaspoon regular dose cod liver oil, doubling the amount at 8 months.12 Use an eye dropper at first; later baby can take cod liver oil mixed with a little water or fresh orange juice.

If baby is very mature and seems hungry, he may be given mashed banana during this period. Ripe banana is a great food for babies because it contains amylase enzymes to digest carbohydrates.1

At Six Months

Puréed meats can be given at six months (or even earlier if baby is very mature). Meats will help ensure adequate intake of iron, zinc, and protein with the decrease in breast milk and formula.17
A variety of fruits can be introduced at this time. Avocado, melon, mangoes and papaya can be mashed and given raw. High-pectin fruits such as peaches, apricots, apples, pears, cherries and berries should be cooked to break down the pectin, which can be very irritating to the digestive tract.
As time goes by, move up in complexity with food and texture. At about six to eight months, vegetables may be introduced, one at a time so that any adverse reactions may be observed. Carrots, sweet potatoes and beets are excellent first choices. All vegetables should be cooked (steamed preferably), mashed and mixed with a liberal amount of fat, such as butter or coconut oil, to provide nutrients to aid in digestion.
Early introduction to different tastes is always a good plan to prevent finickiness. Feed your little one a touch of buttermilk, yogurt or kefir from time to time to familiarize them with the sour taste. Lacto-fermented roots, like sweet potato or taro, are another excellent food for babies to add at this time.1

At Eight Months

Baby can now consume a variety of foods including creamed vegetable soups, homemade stews and dairy foods such as cottage cheese, mild harder raw cheese, cream and custards. Hold off on grains until one year, with the possible exception of soaked and thoroughly cooked brown rice, which can be served earlier to babies who are very mature.

At One Year

Grains, nuts and seeds should be the last food given to babies. This food category has the most potential for causing digestive disturbances or allergies. Babies do not produce the needed enzymes to handle cereals, especially gluten-containing grains like wheat, before the age of one year. Even then, it is a common traditional practice to soak grains in water and a little yogurt or buttermilk for up to 24 hours. This process jump-starts the enzymatic activity in the food and begins breaking down some of the harder-to-digest components.1 The easiest grains to digest are those without gluten like brown rice. When grains are introduced, they should be soaked for at least 24 hours and cooked with plenty of water for a long time. This will make a slightly sour, very thin porridge that can be mixed with other foods.29
After one year, babies can be given nut butters made with crispy nuts (recipe in Nourishing Traditions), cooked leafy green vegetables, raw salad vegetables, citrus fruit and whole egg.

Extra Feeding Baby Tid-Bits

How do you know when it's time to add solids? Observe your baby's signs. When infants are ready for solids they start leaning forward at the sight of food and opening their mouths in a preparatory way. In addition, babies should be able to sit up and coordinate breathing with swallowing. Finally, infants will stop pushing their tongue out when a spoon or bit of food is placed in their mouth--a reflex common in infants that disappears at around four months of age.30

Keep in mind, all babies are different and will not enjoy or tolerate the same foods or textures. Experiment by offering different foods with various textures. Remember, just because your baby doesn't like a food the first time it is introduced does not mean he will not like it the second time. Continue to offer the food, but never force.

Baby's food should be lightly seasoned with unrefined sea salt, but there is no need to add additional seasonings, such as herbs and spices in the beginning. However by 10-12 months, your baby may enjoy a variety of natural seasonings.

To increase variety, take a small portion of the same food you are preparing for the rest of the grown-up family (before seasoning), or leftovers, and purée it for baby (thin or thicken accordingly).
To gradually make food lumpier, purée half of the food, roughly mash the other half and combine the two.

Frozen finger foods are a great way to soothe a baby's teething pain.

Keep a selection of plain yogurt, cottage cheese, eggs, fresh fruit, and fresh or frozen vegetables handy to prepare almost instant natural baby food any time--even when vacationing or traveling.

Organic foods have minimal toxicity, thus placing a smaller chemical burden on the body. This is particularly a benefit for our youngsters. They are more vulnerable to pesticide exposure because their organs and body systems are not fully developed and, in relation to body weight, they eat and drink more than adults. Furthermore, the presence of these chemicals in the environment leads to further contamination of our air, waterways and fields.

There are different ideas concerning when to offer babies water. Many resources suggest giving water about the same time solids are introduced. This is often in combination with cup drinking or sippy-cup training. Keep in mind, breast milk and formula are providing the majority of nutrients in the first 6-9 months, so it is important not to allow a baby to get too full on water. When solids become a larger part of the diet, more liquid may be needed for hydration and digestion. Also, extreme heat, dehydration, vomiting, and fever may also indicate a need for extra water. Bottom line: follow your baby's cues. Always serve filtered water to your baby. You can add a pinch of unrefined salt to the water for minerals.
Let baby eat with a silver spoon--the small amount of silver he will get from this really does help fight infection!

Just Say No

One important warning: do not give your child juice, which contains too much simple sugar and may ruin a child's appetite for the more nourishing food choices. Soy foods, margarine and shortening, and commercial dairy products (especially ultra-pasteurized) should also be avoided, as well as any products that are reduced-fat or low-fat.
By the way, baby fat is a good thing; babies need those extra folds for all the miraculous development their bodies are experiencing. Chubby babies grow up into slim, muscular adults.
Common sense prevails when looking at foods that best nourish infant's. A breastfeeding mother naturally produces the needed nutrition when she consumes the necessary nutrients. The composition of healthy breast milk gives us a blueprint for an infants needs from there on out. Finally, be an example. Although you won't be able to control what goes into your child's mouth forever, you can set the example by your own excellent food choices and vibrant health.




Egg Yolk (4 months +)

Boil an egg for three to four minutes (longer at higher altitudes), peel away the shell, discard the white and mash up yolk with a little unrefined sea salt. (The yolk should be soft and warm, not runny.) Small amounts of grated, raw organic liver (which has been frozen 14 days) may be added to the egg yolk after 6 months. Some mothers report their babies actually prefer the yolk with the liver. From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

Pureed Meats (6 months +)

Cook meat gently in filtered water or homemade stock until completely tender, or use meat from stews, etc., that you have made for your family. Make sure the cooked meat is cold and is in no bigger than 1-2 inch chunks when you puree. Grind up the meat first until it's almost like a clumpy powder. Then add water, formula or breast milk, or the natural cooking juices as the liquid.

Baby Pate (6 months +)

Place 1/4 pound organic chicken livers and 1/4 cup broth or filtered water in a saucepan, bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer for eight minutes. Pour into a blender (liver and liquid) with 1-2 teaspoons butter and a pinch of seasalt and blend to desired consistency.

Vegetable Puree (6 months +)

Use squash, sweet potatoes, parsnips, rutabagas, carrots or beets. Cut vegetables in half, scoop out seeds from squash and bake in a 400 degree oven for about an hour, or steam them (in the case of carrots and beets) for 20 to 25 minutes. Mix in butter when puréeing. You can cook these vegetables for your own dinner and purée a small portion in a blender or food mill for your baby. From Natural Baby Care by Mindy Pennybacker.

Fruit Sauce (6 months +)

Use fresh or frozen peaches, nectarines, apples, blueberries, cherries, pears, berries or a combination. Note: Whenever possible, use organic fruit, and peel the fruit if it is not organic. Cut fruit and put in a saucepan with 1 cup filtered water for every 1/2 cup of fruit. Bring to a boil; reduce to a simmer about 15 minutes or until the fruit is cooked. Purée the mixture in a blender or food mill and strain if necessary. Don't add sugar or spices but you can stir in a little butter or cream. From Natural Baby Care by Mindy Pennybacker.

Dried Apricot Puree (6 months +)

Bring 2 cups filtered water to a boil with 1 pound unsulphured dried apricots and simmer for 15 minutes. Reserve any leftover liquid to use for the puree. Puree, adding the reserved liquid as necessary to achieve a smooth, thin puree. May be blended with some butter.

Fermented Sweet Potato (6 months +)

Poke a few holes in 2 pounds sweet potatoes and bake in an oven at 300 degrees for about 2 hours or until soft. Peel and mash with 1 teaspoon seasalt and 4 tablespoons whey. Place in a bowl, cover, and leave at room temperature for 24 hours. Place in an airtight container and store in the refrigerator. From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

Baby Custard (6 months +)

Mix 1 cup raw milk or whole coconut milk, 1 cup raw cream, 6 egg yolks, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of stevia powder. Pour into buttered ramekin dishes. Place ramekins into a Pyrex dish filled part-way with water. Preheat oven to 310 degrees and cook for about 1 hour.

Smoothie for Baby(8 months +)

Blend 1 cup whole yoghurt with 1/2 banana or 1/2 cup puréed fruit, 1 raw egg yolk (from an organic or pastured chicken) and a pinch of stevia.

Coconut Fish Pate (8 months +)

Place 1 cup leftover cooked fish, 1/4 teaspoon seasalt, 1/4 teaspoon fresh lime juice in a food processor and process with a few pulses. Add 1/2-1 cup coconut cream or whole coconut milk to obtain desired consistency.

Cereal Gruel for Baby (1 year +)

Mix 1/2 cup freshly ground organic flour of spelt, Kamut® , rye, barley or oats with 2 cups warm filtered water mixture plus 2 tablespoons yoghurt, kefir or buttermilk. Cover and leave at room temperature for 12 to 24 hours. Bring to a boil, stirring frequently. Add 1/4 teaspoon salt, reduce heat and simmer, stirring occasionally, about 10 minutes. Let cool slightly and serve with cream or butter and small amount of a natural sweetener, such as raw honey. From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.

Salmon and Rice Mousse (1 year +)

Heat 2 cups chicken broth to a slow boil and add 1/4 cup soaked brown rice. Lower the heat, cover tightly, and let cook for 30 minutes or until it is almost done. Wash 3 ounces salmon thoroughly and remove all bones carefully. Add the salmon to the rice, cover, and let it poach for 10 minutes or until done all the way through. Allow the salmon and rice to cool enough that it can be puréed safely in the blender or food processor. If it is too thick, add just enough water to obtain the consistency you want. Season with a little seasalt.Serve with a puréed vegetable. From The Crazy Makers by Carol Simontacchi.

Crispy Nut Butter (1 year +)

Purée equal amounts of crispy nuts, raw honey and coconut oil. Add salt to taste. Serve at room temperature. From Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon.




Foods By Age

4-6 Months

Minimal solid foods as tolerated by baby
Egg yolk--if tolerated, preferably from pastured chickens, lightly boiled and salted
Banana--mashed, for babies who are very mature and seem hungry
Cod liver oil-- 1/4 teaspoon high vitamin or 1/2 teaspoon regular, given with an eye dropper

6-8 months

Organic liver--grated frozen and added to egg yolk
Pureed meats--lamb, turkey, beef, chicken, liver and fish
Soup broth--(chicken, beef, lamb, fish) added to pureed meats and vegetables, or offered as a drink
Fermented foods--small amounts of yoghurt, kefir, sweet potato, taro, if desired
Raw mashed fruits--banana, melon, mangoes, papaya, avocado
Cooked, pureed fruits--organic apricot, peaches, pears, apples, cherries, berries
Cooked vegetables--zucchini, squash, sweet potato, carrots, beets, with butter or coconut oil

8-12 months

Continue to add variety and increase thickness and lumpiness of the foods already given from 4-8 months
Creamed vegetable soups
Homemade stews--all ingredinets cut small or mashed
Dairy--cottage cheese, mild harder raw cheese, cream, custards
Finger foods--when baby can grab and adequately chew, such as lightly steamed veggie sticks, mild cheese, avocado chunks, pieces of banana
Cod liver oil--increase to 1/2 teaspoon high vitamin or 1 teaspooon regular dose

Over 1 Year

Grains and legumes--properly soaked and cooked
Crispy nut butters--see recipes in Nourishing Traditions
Leafy green vegetables--cooked, with butter
Raw salad vegetables--cucumbers, tomatoes, etc.
Citrus fruit--fresh, organic
Whole egg--cooked



Foods to avoid28

Up to 6 months: Certain foods, such as spinach, celery, lettuce, radishes, beets, turnips and collard greens, may contain excessive nitrate, which can be converted into nitrite (an undesirable substance) in the stomach. Leafy green vegetables are best avoided until 1 year. When cooking vegetables that may contain these substances, do not use the water they were cooked in to purée.
Up to 9 months: Citrus and tomato, which are common allergens.
Up to 1 year: Because infants do not produce strong enough stomach acid to deactivate potential spores, infants should refrain from eating honey.1 Use blackstrap molasses, which is high in iron and calcium. Egg whites should also be avoided up to one year due to their high allergenic potential.
ALWAYS: Commercial dairy products (especially ultra-pasteurized), modern soy foods, margarines and shortening, fruit juices, reduced-fat or low-fat foods, extruded grains and all processed foods.


Making Homemade Baby Food

Making homemade baby food may not be as easy as opening a can, but once you have organized a cook-and-freeze routine, it is a snap. This gives you the control over food choices and cooking methods, and allows you to avoid synthetic preservatives. With careful preparation, you will maximize the nutrient and enzyme content of your baby's food. This will make for easier digestion and better overall nutrition. One timesaving method is to cook and purée a selection of fruits, vegetables, and meats in adult quantities, and freeze them in glass custard dishes or porcelain ramekins, or just clumps on a baking sheet. These cubes can be placed in freezer bags, labeled and sealed, available for quick thawing and reheating. Thawing in the refrigerator is the most nutrient-saving method. Simply place a covered dish containing food cubes in the fridge; they will thaw in three to four hours. It only takes one to two hours at room temperature. When on the go, put the cubes in a glass container and add hot water or place the container in hot water to thaw.
Little attention is necessary to seasoning baby foods, but texture is important. Besides the basic taste, the smoothness or thickness of a food concerns baby most. To thin purées, use milk or formula. Puréed potatoes, winter squash, bananas, carrots, yogurt, nut or seed paste, and peas make great thickeners.
The only special equipment you need is a food processor, blender or a baby food mill and a simple metal collapsible steamer basket. Don't forget the unbreakable bowls, baby spoons, and bibs. Two-handed weighted cups for drinking lessons are also a must.

How much at each meal?

With the rough outline below, one food portion is equal to approximately one tablespoon, depending on the type of ice cube or other food trays you may be using for freezing baby food. Start out slowly. Prepare a teaspoon-sized portion of whatever food you have chosen to begin with. Your baby will most likely only eat half of that small portion for the first few attempts with solids. Ultimately, baby will tell you how much he should eat. Your main concern should be making what he does eat as nutritious as possible. As your baby becomes accustomed to eating solids, you can gradually increase the portion size. Once you have ruled out sensitivities/allergies to different foods, be sure to rotate the acceptable foods in the diet--meaning, try to avoid having the same food day in and day out. The following are guidelines for 6-8 months:

Breakfast: Breast milk or formula, 1 egg yolk, 1 cube meat, 1-2 tablespoons cottage cheese or smoothie
Lunch: Breast milk or formula, mashed banana or 1 cube fruit or vegetable
Snack/Dinner: Breast milk or formula and 1 cube of meat, 1-2 tablespoons fermented taro or sweet potato

Portions increase for 8-10 months:
Breakfast: Breast milk or formula, 1 egg yolk, 1-2 cubes fruit or vegetable, and 1 cube meat
Lunch: Breast milk or formula, 1-2 cubes meat, 1-3 cubes vegetable, optional dairy such as yogurt or cheese
Dinner: Breast milk or formula, 2 cubes meat, 1-3 cubes fruit and vegetables, yogurt or cheese
Snacks: Finger foods or smoothie

Remember, not all babies will be eating the same amounts or foods. This portion outline is just an example. Some infants are not ready to eat 3 "meals" per day until well into the 9-10 month range. You should use the above information as a guide only and keep to your infant's development and eating habits as well as your pediatrician's advice.30


Not a Good Idea for Babies! (Or Their Parents or Brothers and Sisters Either!)
Almond Breeze Vanilla (Almond Milk): Purified water, evaporated cane juice, almonds, tricalcium phosphate, natural vanilla flavor and other natural flavors, sea salt, potassium citrate, carrageenan, soy lecithin, d-alpha tocopherol (natural vitamin E), vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2
Rice Dream "Heartwise" Rice Drink Original: Filtered water, brown rice (partially milled) gum arabic, expeller pressed high oleic safflower oil, tricalcium phosphate, CorowiseTM phytosterol esters, sea salt, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D2, vitamin B12
365 Organic Rice Milk Vanilla: Filtered water, partially milled organic rice, organic expeller pressed canola oil, tricalcium phosphate, natural vanilla flavor with other natural flavors, sea salt, carrageenan, vitamin A palmitate, vitamin D.



REFERENCES
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3. Scariati PD. A longitudinal analysis of infant mortality and the extent of breast-feeding in the US. Pediatrics. 1997;99:5-12.
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10. Mendelsohn, Robert, M.D. How to Raise a Healthy Child in Spite of Your Doctor. Ballantine Books. 1984.
11. Smith, Lendon, M.D. How to Raise a Healthy Child. M. Evans and Company. 1996.
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13. Jensen RG. Lipids in Human Milk. Lipids 1999;34:1243-1271
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15. Persson, A. et al. Are weaning foods causing impaired iron and zinc status in 1-year-old Swedish infants? A cohort study. Acta Paediatr 1998; 87(6): 618-22
16. Krebs, N. Research in Progress. Beef as a first weaning food. Food and Nutrition News 1998; 70(2):5
17. Krebs, Nancy. Dietary Zinc and Iron Sources, Physical Growth and Cognitive Development of Breastfed Infants. Journal of Nutrition. 2000;130:358S-360S.
18. Engelmann M. D., Davidsson L., Sanstrom B., Walczyk T., Hurrell R. F., Michaelsen K. F. The influence of meat on nonheme iron absorption in infants. Pediatr. Res. 1998a;43:768-7
19. Makrides, M. et al. A randomized controlled clinical trial of increased dietary iron in breast-fed infants. J Pediatr 1998; 133(4): 559-62.
20. Engelmann, M. et al. Meat intake and iron status in late infancy: an intervention study, J Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr 1998; 26(1): 26-33
21. Jalla S., Steirn M. E., Miller L. V., Krebs N. F. Comparison of zinc absorption from beef vs iron fortified rice cereal in breastfed infants. FASEB J 1998;12:A346(abs.)
22. Engelmann M. D., Sandstrom B., Michaelsen K. F. Meat intake and iron status in late infancy: an intervention study. J. Pediatr. Gastroenterol. Nutr. 1998b;26:26-33
23. Westcott J. L., Simon N. B., Krebs N. F. Growth, zinc and iron status, and development of exclusively breastfed infants fed meat vs cereal as a first weaning food. FASEB J 1998;12:A847(abs.)
24. Birch L. L., Grimm-Thomas K. Food acceptance patterns: children learn what they like. Pediatr. Basics 1996;75:2-6
25. Sears, William, M.D. Sears, Martha, R.N. The Baby Book. Little, Brown, and Company. 1993.
26. Nutritional effect of including egg yolk in the weaning diet of breast-fed and formula-fed infants: a randomized controlled trial. American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, Vol. 75, No. 6, 1084-1092, June 2002
27. Enig, Mary. Ph.D. Dietary Recommendations for Children – A Recipe for Future Heart Disease? Accessed August 17, 2004.
28. Pennybacker, Mindy and Ikramuddin, Aisha. Natural Baby Care. Mothers and Others for a Livable Planet. John Wiley and Sons, Inc. 1999.
29. Cowan, Tom M.D. Feeding Our Children. Found at www.fourfoldhealing.com on January 12, 2005.
30. Information found at www.wholesomebabyfood.com on December 29, 2004.
This article appeared in Wise Traditions in Food, Farming and the Healing Arts, the quarterly magazine of the Weston A. Price Foundation, Summer 2005.


_http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/318-feeding-babies.html

Feeding Babies


Any effort to ensure optimal nutrition of your baby must begin long before he or she is conceived. The wisdom of primitive peoples is vastly superior to our own in this regard, in that a common practice among isolated groups is the feeding of special foods to both men and women for a period of time before conception occurs. Dr. Weston Price's studies revealed that these foods—including organ meats, fish heads, fish eggs, shell fish, insects and animal fats—were rich in fat-soluble vitamins A and D as well as macro and trace minerals. Couples planning to have children should eat liberally of organic liver and other organ meats, fish eggs and other seafood, eggs and the best quality butter, cream and fermented milk products they can obtain for at least six months before conception. A daily cod liver oil supplement is also advised. (See note on cod liver oil, page 616.) Organic meats, vegetables, grains and legumes should round out the diet, with a special emphasis on the leafy green vegetables rich in folic acid, which is necessary for the prevention of birth defects like spinal bifida.

A good rule for pregnant women is liver once a week, at least two eggs per day and 1 teaspoon cod liver oil daily. A daily ration of superfoods, such as evening primrose oil, bee pollen, mineral powder, wheat germ oil and acerola, will provide optimal amounts of nutrients for your unborn child. Beet kvass (page 608) and kombucha (page 596), with their liver cleansing properties, are useful in preventing future morning sickness—as are foods rich in vitamin B6, such as raw fish and raw meat (pages 231-242).

A cleansing fast, undertaken six months or more before conception, is a good idea; but during the six months before conception and nine months of pregnancy it is vital to consume nutrient-dense foods. Every attempt should be made to enhance the digestibility of the diet through meat broths and the inclusion of lacto-fermented grains, beverages and condiments. All empty calories and harmful substances should be eliminated—sugar, white flour, hydrogenated and rancid vegetable oils, excess of polyunsaturated oils, tobacco, caffeine and alcohol. Oral contraceptives should be avoided during this preparatory period as these deplete many nutrients, particularly zinc, the "intelligence mineral."

The importance of breast-feeding your baby, especially during his first few months, cannot be overemphasized. Breast milk is perfectly designed for your baby's physical and mental development. Breast-fed babies tend to be more robust, more intelligent and freer from allergies and other complaints, especially intestinal difficulties, than those on formula. In addition, colostrum produced by the mammary glands during the first few days of a baby's life helps guard him against colds, flu, polio, staph infections and viruses.

It must be emphasized, however, that the quality of mother's milk depends greatly on her diet. Sufficient animal products will ensure proper amounts of vitamin B12, A and D as well as all-important minerals like zinc in her milk. Lactating women should continue with a diet that emphasizes liver, eggs and cod liver oil. Whole milk products and stock made from bones will ensure that her baby receives adequate calcium.

Pesticides and other toxins will be present in mother's milk if they are present in the diet, so all care should be taken to consume organic foods of both plant and animal origin during pregnancy and lactation. Organic foods also provide more omega-3 fatty acids needed for baby's optimal development. Hydrogenated fats should be strictly avoided as these result in reduced fat content in mother's milk. Trans fats accumulate in mother's milk and can lead to decreased visual acuity and learning difficulties in the infant.

Breast-feeding should ideally be continued for six months to a year. If mother's milk is not adequate or of good quality, or if the mother is unable to breast feed for whatever reason, a homemade baby formula, rather than a commercial formula, can be used. Commercial infant formulas are highly fabricated concoctions composed of milk or soy powders produced by high-temperature processes that overdenature proteins and add many carcinogens. Milk-based formulas often cause allergies while soy-based formulas contain mineral-blocking phytic acid, growth inhibitors and plant forms of estrogen compounds that can have adverse effects on the hormonal development in the infant. Soy-based formulas are also devoid of cholesterol, needed for the development of the brain and nervous system.

Fortunately, it is possible to compose a formula that closely resembles mother's milk. Whenever possible this formula should be based on raw organic milk, from cows certified free of tuberculosis and brucellosis. The milk should come from cows that eat food appropriate to cows, which is green grass in the warm months and hay and root vegetables in the winter, not soy or cottonseed meal. Ideally, the milk should come from Jersey or Guernsey cows, rather than Holsteins, so that it has a high butterfat content. This may be purchased at the farm in some states. Of course, such milk should be produced under the cleanest possible conditions and stored in sterilized containers. But the milk should be unheated. Properly produced raw milk does not pose a danger to your baby, in spite of what numerous public health propagandists may assert. Raw milk contains enzymes and antibodies that make it less susceptible to bacterial contamination than pasteurized milk, while many toxins that cause diarrhea and other ailments survive the pasteurization process. Your nose will tell you if raw milk is contaminated or spoiled—but pasteurized milk may be seriously contaminated with no telltale warning odor. Raw milk is easier for your baby to digest than pasteurized and less likely to cause cramps, constipation and allergies. If it is not possible for you to obtain certified raw milk, begin with the best quality pasteurized whole milk you can find, milk that is not homogenized, and culture it for 12 hours with piima culture or kefir grains to restore enzymes lost through pasteurization (pages 83 and 88). Or, you may prepare a milk-free formula made from organic liver. Organic liver should also be added to formula made from goat milk, as goat milk is deficient in iron, folic acid and vitamin B12.

Both our milk-based and meat-based formulas have been designed to provide maximum possible correspondence with the various components of human milk. Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, manganese and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cows milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow's milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. The liver-based formula also mimics the nutrient profile of mother's milk. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils (see Sources) in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

A wise supplement for all babies—whether breast fed or bottle fed—is an egg yolk per day, beginning at four months. Egg yolk supplies cholesterol needed for mental development as well as important sulphur-containing amino acids. Egg yolks from pasture-fed hens or hens raised on flax meal, fish meal or insects are also rich in the omega-3 long-chain fatty acids found in mother's milk but which may be lacking in cow's milk. These fatty acids are essential for the development of the brain. Parents who institute the practice of feeding egg yolk to baby will be rewarded with children who speak and take directions at an early age. The white, which contains difficult-to-digest proteins, should not be given before the age of one year. Small amounts of grated, raw organic liver may be added occasionally to the egg yolk after six months. This imitates the practice of African mothers who chew liver before giving it to their infants as their first food. Liver is rich in iron, the one mineral that tends to be low in mother's milk possibly because iron competes with zinc for absorption.

An unfortunate practice in industrial societies is the feeding of cereal grains to infants. Babies produce only small amounts of amylase, needed for the digestion of grains, and are not fully equipped to handle cereals, especially wheat, before the age of one year. (Some experts prohibit all grains before the age of two.) Baby's small intestine mostly produces one enzyme for carbohydrates—lactase, for the digestion of lactose. (Raw milk also contains lactase.) Many doctors have warned that feeding cereal grains too early can lead to grain allergies later on. Baby's earliest solid foods should be animal foods as his digestive system, although immature, is better equipped to supply enzymes for digestion of fats and proteins rather than carbohydrates.

Carbohydrate in the form of fresh, mashed banana can be added after the age of six months as bananas are rich in amylase enzymes and, thus, are easily digested by most infants. Some preindustrial societies give a gruel of cereal grains, soaked 24 hours, to babies one year or older. Soaking in an acidic medium neutralizes phytates and begins the breakdown of carbohydrates, thus allowing children to obtain optimum nourishment from grains. It also provides lactic acid to the intestinal tract to facilitate mineral uptake.

At the age of about ten months, meats, fruits and vegetables may be introduced, one at a time so that any adverse reactions may be observed. Carbohydrate foods, such as potatoes, carrots, turnips, etc., should be mashed with butter. (Don't overdo on the orange vegetables as baby's immature liver may have difficulty converting carotenoids to vitamin A. If your baby's skin develops a yellowish color, a sign that he is not making the conversion, discontinue orange vegetables for a time.) Lacto-fermented taro or other roots (page 102) make an excellent carbohydrate food for babies. It is wise to feed babies a little buttermilk or yoghurt from time to time to familiarize them with the sour taste. Above all, do not deprive your baby of animal fats—he needs them for optimum physical growth and mental development. Mother's milk contains over 50% of its calories as fat, much of it saturated fat, and children need these kinds of fats throughout their growing years.

It is unwise to give baby fruit juices, especially apple juice, which provide only simple carbohydrates and will often spoil an infant's appetite for more nutritious foods. Sorbitol, a sugar-alcohol in apple juice, is difficult to digest. Studies have linked failure to thrive in children with diets high in apple juice. High -fructose foods are especially dangerous for growing children.

Remember that babies should be chubby and children should be sturdy and strong, not slim. Babies need body fat to achieve optimum growth. The fat around their ankles, knees, elbows and wrists is growth fat that ensures adequate nourishment to the growth plates at the ends of the bones. Fat babies grow up into sturdy, well-formed adults, neither too tall nor too short and either slender or stocky depending on genetic heritage.

Keep your baby away from processed junk foods as long as possible—but do not think that you can do this indefinitely. Unless you lock your child in a closet—or live in a closed community of like-minded parents—he will come in contact with junk foods sooner or later. His best protection is the optimal diet that you have given him during his infancy and your loving example and training in later years.

Copyright: From: Nourishing Traditions: The Cookbook that Challenges Politically Correct Nutrition and the Diet Dictocrats by Sally Fallon and Mary G. Enid, PhD. © 1999. All Rights Reserved.


_http://www.westonaprice.org/childrens-health/319-recipes-for-homemade-baby-formula.html


Raw Milk Baby Formula
Makes 36 ounces.

Our milk-based formula takes account of the fact that human milk is richer in whey, lactose, vitamin C, niacin, and long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to cow's milk but leaner in casein (milk protein). The addition of gelatin to cow's milk formula will make it more digestible for the infant. Use only truly expeller-expressed oils in the formula recipes, otherwise they may lack vitamin E.

The ideal milk for baby, if he cannot be breastfed, is clean, whole raw milk from old-fashioned cows, certified free of disease, that feed on green pasture. For sources of good quality milk, see www.realmilk.com or contact a local chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation.
If the only choice available to you is commercial milk, choose whole milk, preferably organic and unhomogenized, and culture it with a piima or kefir culture to restore enzymes.

Ingredients
2 cups whole raw cow's milk, preferably from pasture-fed cows
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below) Note: Do NOT use powdered whey or whey from making cheese (which will cause the formula to curdle). Use only homemade whey made from yoghurt, kefir or separated raw milk.
4 tablespoons lactose*
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
2 or more tablespoons good quality cream (preferably not ultrapasteurized), more if you are using milk from Holstein cows
1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil**
1/4 teaspoon high-vitamin butter oil (optional)*
1 teaspoon expeller-expressed sunflower oil*
1 teaspoon extra virgin olive oil*
2 teaspoons coconut oil*
2 teaspoons Frontier brand nutritional yeast flakes*
2 teaspoons gelatin*
1-7/8 cups filtered water
1/4 teaspoon acerola powder*
*Available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333, _www.radiantlifecatalog.com.
**Use only recommended brands of cod liver oil. See our recommendations here.

Instructions
Put 2 cups filtered water into a pyrex measuring pitcher and remove 2 tablespoons (that will give you 1-7/8 cups water).
Pour about half of the water into a pan and place on a medium flame.
Add the gelatin and lactose to the pan and let dissolve, stirring occasionally.
When the gelatin and lactose are dissolved, remove from heat and add the remaining water to cool the mixture.
Stir in the coconut oil and optional high-vitamin butter oil and stir until melted.
Meanwhile, place remaining ingredients into a blender.
Add the water mixture and blend about three seconds.
Place in glass bottles or a glass jar and refrigerate.
Before giving to baby, warm bottles by placing in hot water or a bottle warmer. NEVER warm bottles in a microwave oven.


Variation: Goat Milk Formula

Although goat milk is rich in fat, it must be used with caution in infant feeding as it lacks folic acid and is low in vitamin B12, both of which are essential to the growth and development of the infant. Inclusion of nutritional yeast to provide folic acid is essential. To compensate for low levels of vitamin B12, if preparing the Milk-Based Formula (above) with goat's milk, add 2 teaspoons organic raw chicken liver, frozen for 14 days, finely grated to the batch of formula. Be sure to begin egg-yolk feeding at four months.


Liver-Based Formula
Makes about 36 ounces.

Our liver-based formula also mimics the nutrient profile of mother's milk. It is extremely important to include coconut oil in this formula as it is the only ingredient that provides the special medium-chain saturated fats found in mother's milk. As with the milk-based formula, all oils should be truly expeller-expressed.
Ingredients:
3-3/4 cups homemade beef or chicken broth
2 ounces organic liver, cut into small pieces
5 tablespoons lactose*
1/4 teaspoon bifidobacterium infantis
1/4 cup homemade liquid whey (See recipe for whey, below)
1 tablespoon coconut oil*
1/2 teaspoon unflavored high-vitamin or high-vitamin fermented cod liver oil or 1 teaspoon regular cod liver oil**
1 teaspoon unrefined sunflower oil*
2 teaspoons extra virgin olive oil*
1 teaspoon acerola powder*

*Available from Radiant Life 888-593-8333, www.radiantlifecatalog.com.
**Use only recommended brands of cod liver oil. See our recommendations here.


Instructions:
Simmer liver gently in broth until the meat is cooked through.
Liquefy using a handheld blender or in a food processor.
When the liver broth has cooled, stir in remaining ingredients.
Store in a very clean glass or stainless steel container.
To serve, stir formula well and pour 6 to 8 ounces in a very clean glass bottle.
Attach a clean nipple and set in a pan of simmering water until formula is warm but not hot to the touch, shake well and feed to baby. (Never heat formula in a microwave oven!)



Egg Yolk for Baby

Egg yolk should be baby's first solid food, starting at 4 months, whether baby is breastfed or formula-fed. Egg yolks from pastured hens will contain the special long-chain fatty acids so critical for the optimal development of the brain and nervous system. The whites may cause an allergic reaction and should not be given to baby until he is at least one year old.

Ingredients:
1 organic egg from a pasture-fed hen
1/2 teaspoon grated raw organic liver, frozen for 14 days Note: It is VERY important that the liver be frozen for 14 days before using.

Instructions:
Boil egg for 3 1/2 minutes.
Place in a bowl and peel off shell.
Remove egg white and discard.
Yolk should be soft and warm, not hot, with its enzyme content intact.
If you wish to add liver, grate on the small holes of a grater while frozen. Allow to warm up and stir into egg yolk.



Homemade Whey Instructions

Makes about 5 cups.
Homemade whey is easy to make from good quality plain yoghurt, or from raw or cultured milk. You will need a large strainer that rests over a bowl.
If you are using yoghurt, place 2 quarts in a strainer lined with a tea towel set over a bowl. Cover with a plate and leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Place whey in clean glass jars and store in the refrigerator.
If you are using raw or cultured milk, place 2 quarts of the milk in a glass container and leave at room temperature for 2-4 days until the milk separates into curds and whey. Pour into the strainer lined with a tea towel set over a bowl and cover with a plate. Leave at room temperature overnight. The whey will drip out into the bowl. Store in clean glass jars in the refrigerator.
Source: Nourishing Traditions by Sally Fallon with Mary G. Enig, PhD.



Breast Milk and Homemade Formula Nutrient Comparison Chart
Based on 36 ounces.

These nutrient comparison tables were derived from standard food nutrient tables and do not take into account the wide variation in nutrient levels that can occur in both human and animal milk, depending on diet and environment.

Breast Milk Cow's Milk
Formula Goat Milk
Formula Liver-Based
Formula
Calories 766 856 890 682
Protein 11.3g 18g 18g 15g
Carbohydrates 76g 79g 77g 69g
Total Fat 48g 52g 54g 36g
Saturated Fat 22g 28g 30g 16g
Mono Fat 18g 16g 16g 12g
Poly Fat 5.5g 5.6g 5.7g 5.6g
Omega-3 FA .58g 1.3g 1.2g 1.0g
Omega-6 FA 4.4g 4.2g 4.4g 4.5g
Cholesterol 153mg 137mg 166mg 227mg
Vitamin A* 946IU 5000IU 5000IU 20,000IU
Thiamin-B1 .15mg 1.05mg 1.1mg .19mg
Riboflavin-B2 .4mg 1.2mg 1.2mg 1.9mg
Niacin-B3 1.9mg 2.5mg 4.4mg 14.2mg
Vitamin B6 .12mg .51mg .60mg .65mg
Vitamin B12 .5mcg 1.9mcg 2.8mcg 39mcg
Folate 57mcg 236mcg 284mcg 159mcg
Vitamin C 55mg 57mg 59mg 62mg
Vitamin D 480IU 450IU 525IU 460IU
Vitamin E*** 9.9mg 6.2mg 4.7mg 4.9mg
Calcium 355mg 532mg 548mg NA**
Copper .57mg .38mg .58mg 1.9mg
Iron .33mg 1.4mg 2.2mg 5.4mg
Magnesium 37.4mg 91.3mg 96.1mg 34.5mg
Manganese .29mg .034mg .12mg .24mg
Phosphorus 151mg 616mg 729mg 344mg
Potassium 560mg 949mg 1228mg 750mg
Selenium 18.8mcg 15.4mcg 18.7mcg 31.1mcg
Sodium 186mg 308mg 320mg NA**
Zinc 1.9mg 2.8mg 2.7mg 2.5mg

* Vitamin A levels in human milk will depend on the diet of the mother. Nursing mothers eating vitamin A-rich foods such as cod liver oil will have much higher levels of vitamin A in their milk. Commercial formulas contain about 2400 IU vitamin A per 800 calories.
** Calcium and sodium values for homemade broth are not available.
*** Vitamin E values are derived from commercial vegetable oils. The vitamin E levels for homemade formulas will be higher if good quality, expeller-expressed oils are used.
 
Re: Needing Suggestions for What should a 6 month old baby eat?

I'm with Mrs. Tigersoap. Fruit first, softly cooked/steamed. Then veggies steamed and pureed. And stick with one thing for awhile before introducing the next. Keep a close eye on baby to note any negative reactions.
 
Calcium food for young babies. Advice please.

Ok we have our 8 month old enjoying buckwheat pancakes and other good stuff , but we are wondering what we can introduce into his diet which is a good source for calcium. advice appreciated.Thanks.
 
Re: Calcium food for young babies. Advice please.

Umm, didn't you start a thread on what to feed the baby a few months ago? Can you find it please?

Added: I found the thread and merged your new post with it. I'm working on tidying up the forum.

Anyway, as to your question: I have several questions:

1) What makes you think that additional calcium is needed?

2) You do realize that what most people lack is magnesium without which, calcium is useless.

3) did you search on the internet for high calcium and magnesium food lists?

4) Have you read all the possibly related health threads here on the forum.

5) Or, do you expect someone to do all this work for you?
 
OOps ! yes here I am. found it. Thanks Laura.

Calcium intake is the main concern at present. He is eating very healthily , good appetite.Sleeps well , plays well , ha a sense of humor , just a great all round little one and a privilege to be with him.

We have introduced new foods gently and seems to be no reactions so far. Still breastfeeding and while mum is back at work he has had breatmilk from the bottle which has been breastpumped out.
 
Away With The Fairys said:
OOps ! yes here I am. found it. Thanks Laura.

Calcium intake is the main concern at present.

[quote author=Laura]
2) You do realize that what most people lack is magnesium without which, calcium is useless.[/quote]

AWTF,

I just thought I'd point this out in case it escaped you. Apologies if you are still researching this topic of the Magnesium/Calcium ratio and looking over the material. Most people on a standard western diet are deficient in magnesium rather than calcium; so until you are sure magnesium levels are adequate, there's no sense in worrying about calcium, OSIT.
 
Re: Calcium food for young babies. Advice please.

Laura said:
Umm, didn't you start a thread on what to feed the baby a few months ago? Can you find it please?

Added: I found the thread and merged your new post with it. I'm working on tidying up the forum.

Anyway, as to your question: I have several questions:

1) What makes you think that additional calcium is needed?

2) You do realize that what most people lack is magnesium without which, calcium is useless.

3) did you search on the internet for high calcium and magnesium food lists?

4) Have you read all the possibly related health threads here on the forum.

5) Or, do you expect someone to do all this work for you?



1) I did not think about it , it is The Hammer who is worried and mentioned it today.

2) Yes

3) No

4) Not all , as much as we can under the present circumnstances

5) Have to say number 5 hurt. No we dont expect someone to do all the work for us. The food list of what is safe to eat is continually changing and we are a little worried , not overly , that we are feeding him the right food. The Hammer is back in full time work now , and I am looking after the baby every day. I am not recognised by the state and so have no income. If i apply for state money the usual thing is that the child has to be taken to somewhere where Danish children in such situations are looked after by complete strangers. We have no support via family as they live to far away and work themselves.

When i do get time I am working on the house which is tiring. And if i get a break from that i have time to maybe play or write a piece of music. But i have to do it quick.

Children of this age , as you will know Laura demand all ones time and if one can get time to read a few words from a book , or anything its a bonus. Some can do it im only learning.
 
Sorry about this! It is due to a lack of communication on my behalf. I asked my husband to do a search on high calcium foods because I am worried that our baby wont get enough when I stop breastfeeding him (hopefully I can continue for an other couple of months, since the milk supply doesn't seem to have dropped despite having to work full time and having to work all hours). And yes, we both know that magnesium is important, which is why we both take supplements but knowing that our baby won't be able to take tablets in the near future, I would like him to be covered when it's needed.

Our baby gets introduced to a new taste nearly every 3rd day and being a worrier I would like him to taste all the high calcium foods and get familiar with them before the milksupply might drop..

Also as the video on the front page a couple of months back said, people in Denmark drink a lot of milk and are brainwashed into thinking this is the only source of calcium (myself included, which is why I worried about finding the healthiest alternative) .. and we would like to keep the cows milk out of his system.
 
the_hammer said:
Sorry about this! It is due to a lack of communication on my behalf. I asked my husband to do a search on high calcium foods because I am worried that our baby wont get enough when I stop breastfeeding him (hopefully I can continue for an other couple of months, since the milk supply doesn't seem to have dropped despite having to work full time and having to work all hours). And yes, we both know that magnesium is important, which is why we both take supplements but knowing that our baby won't be able to take tablets in the near future, I would like him to be covered when it's needed.

Our baby gets introduced to a new taste nearly every 3rd day and being a worrier I would like him to taste all the high calcium foods and get familiar with them before the milksupply might drop..

Also as the video on the front page a couple of months back said, people in Denmark drink a lot of milk and are brainwashed into thinking this is the only source of calcium (myself included, which is why I worried about finding the healthiest alternative) .. and we would like to keep the cows milk out of his system.

Is there anybody in your area that can supply raw goat's milk? If I recall right, there is a section in Sally Fallon's book Nourishing Traditions that talks about using raw milk after breast feeding. I think drinking this sort of milk is fine up until the age of 2 from what I understand. She gives a few different options for making homemade formulas in that book. Some are milk based, some are not.

For getting extra magnesium, I would think a mashed avocado would be a good food to introduce to baby.

EDIT: I just noticed that HiFromGrace has an excerpt for the same milk formulas that are mentioned in Nourishing Traditions, in case you don't have time to find a copy of the book.
 
Here is a link with information on non-dairy foods high in calcium - _http://www.healthdiaries.com/eatthis/15-non-dairy-foods-high-in-calcium.html

I can't verify it's truthfulness on the amounts, but I do know that the foods listed have calcium. I do think it's REALLY important to realize that calcium is pushed as a must have, while magnesium is never mentioned and without magnesium, calcium can't be absorbed anyway.

In other words, it might be a good idea to stop relying on what you've been told all your life about what to eat. From the sound of things, the baby is just fine, so extra calcium isn't really an issue and won't be for many years if he had zero calcium over that time (which is pretty impossible).
 
Psyche, who is a cardiac surgeon, spent some time one day describing to all of us here the horrors of too much calcium which, it seems, goes with the increase in heart disease. She described calcified heart valves and veins and arteries that were so hardened with calcium that they could only be surgically treated using "bone crunchers." I had taken calcium supplements for years thinking that this was the answer and I think I did considerable damage to myself thereby. I've not been taking ANY calcium for several years now, (except what I get in my food which is probably plenty), only taking magnesium, trying to get my levels sorted out.

I think that it is very likely that a lot of the increase in children having heart problems and sudden death is due to dairy products and too much calcium.

Even without milk of any kind, there is a lot of calcium in other foods. Spinach and other dark, leafy greens, seem to be the best sources. We have spinach and chard here in blinis. We chop it up fine, stir fry it quickly to make it wilt, then put it in blini batter and fry up blinis. You can mix other veggies in too, like grated carrots and onions (maybe no onions for baby).
 
Thank you all for your responses! And for all the advices on things to add to his diet! Unfortunately the only thing he might have had a reaction to is avocado (small spots in his forehead the following day which lasted for two days) but we will try and give it to him again in a couple of weeks time.
He does like onion though (only added as a spice once in a while so his food won't be too bland).
I will ask around and see if anyone has goats milk in the area. Not that he needs it right now, but it is nicer to know where to get it from should the need arise.
 
Laura said:
Psyche, who is a cardiac surgeon, spent some time one day describing to all of us here the horrors of too much calcium which, it seems, goes with the increase in heart disease. She described calcified heart valves and veins and arteries that were so hardened with calcium that they could only be surgically treated using "bone crunchers." I had taken calcium supplements for years thinking that this was the answer and I think I did considerable damage to myself thereby. I've not been taking ANY calcium for several years now, (except what I get in my food which is probably plenty), only taking magnesium, trying to get my levels sorted out.

I think that it is very likely that a lot of the increase in children having heart problems and sudden death is due to dairy products and too much calcium.

Even without milk of any kind, there is a lot of calcium in other foods. Spinach and other dark, leafy greens, seem to be the best sources. We have spinach and chard here in blinis. We chop it up fine, stir fry it quickly to make it wilt, then put it in blini batter and fry up blinis. You can mix other veggies in too, like grated carrots and onions (maybe no onions for baby).

Yeah, to remove the calcium, we have to use surgical instruments such as the “bone eater” – and even with that you struggle a lot! Eventually the instruments end up losing their sharp cutting edge. It is like cutting a rock, I kid you not. Tissues that should be smooth and silky are calcified and have the consistency of a rock or a bone. It has gotten worse over the years and there are other factors involved as well (such as microbial infections), but magnesium is one of those things that is absolutely essential.

Magnesium helps to dissolve calcium; it becomes more water soluble. So with foods artificially enriched with calcium, and the boom of calcium supplementation, there is never enough magnesium. Already in 1936 in the US Senate, there were discussions about dangerous diet deficiencies due to mineral depleted soils. Foods raised on millions of acres of land no longer contain enough of certain minerals, no matter how much of them you eat (and this was in the 1930′s!). So usually there is always a constant deficiency in magnesium in most populations.

If you don’t have enough magnesium to help keep calcium dissolved, you end up with calcium-excess spasms, calcification of arteries, calcium deposits, kidney stones, spasms of your blood vessels (which can lead to heart attacks and angina), migraine headaches, broncospasm (asthma), arrhythmias, etc. Magnesium deficiencies are also seen in depression and anxieties!

Magnesium is involved in over 325 enzymatic reactions in the body that regulate metabolism, energy production, electrical currents, etc. Even people who try to detoxify can’t really do it if they’re low in magnesium because it is involved in crucial enzymatic reactions that helps the body to detoxify. All chronic diseases involve inflammation and where there is inflammation you can be certain that there is a magnesium deficiency. Magnesium has also been used successfully as a pain reliever when used transdermally.

Sayer Ji made a good synthesis of the dangers of calcium supplements recently (after a recent study on the subject):

The Dangers of Calcium Supplementation

www.greenmedinfo.com

On July 29th the British Medical Journal published the results of a large meta-analysis online. The report, based on the results of 5 clinical trials conducted in the US, Britain and New Zealand and involving over 8,000 people, indicated that taking calcium supplements of 500mg or higher (without coadministered vitamin D and in its elemental form) may increase the risk of heart attack by 30%.

This report confirms years of research I have been doing on the inherent dangers associated with inorganic calcium consumption; which is to say, calcium from limestone, oyster shell, egg shell and bone meal (hydroxyapatite). Despite the mass appeal consuming large amounts of elemental calcium has among health professionals, the "experts" that inform them, and lay persons alike, the practice just does not resonate well with "common sense." After all, does it really feel sensible and intuitively "right" to consume shells or chalk? Before we address the "chalk" connection further in the article below, here is a summary of the major concerns I have with calcium over-supplementation....

Inorganic or "elemental" calcium when not bound to natural co-factors, e.g. amino acids, lipids and glyconutrients, as it is found in "food" (which is to say other living beings, e.g. plants and animals) no longer has the intelligent delivery system that enables the body to comprehend its proper role, and utilize it in a biologically appropriate manner. Lacking this "delivery system" or intelligent code, the calcium may end up going to places we do not want (ectopic calcification), or go to places we do want (the bones) excessively, stimulating unnaturally accelerated cell-division (osteoblasts), resulting in higher bone turn over rates later in life (this is explained in the article below). Or, the body attempts to disburden itself of this inappropriate calcium and keeps it cordained off in the bowel (constipation), or pushes it through the kidneys (stones). Worse, high levels of calcium can ensue in the blood (hypercalcemia), which can contribute to destabilizing the atherosclerotic plaque through the formation of a brittle calcium cap on the atheroma, can contribute to thrombosis (clot) formation, hypertension (that's why we use calcium channel blockers to lower blood pressure), and perhaps causing arrhythmias/fibrillation and or heart muscle cramping (a variety of 'heart attack'). The breasts too are uniquely susceptible to calcification, which is why we use the same x-ray technology to ascertain bone density that we do to discern microcalcifications as evidence of breast cancer through x-ray mammography. Due to the fact that the hydroxyapatitate crystals found in malignant breast cancer may act as a cellular 'signaling molecule' or mitogen (inducing cell proliferation) it is possible that certain breast calcifications may be causally, and not just epiphenomenally related to the tumorous degeneration found there. "Brain gravel" is also an increasingly prevalent phenomenon, where autoposied patients have been found to have pebble size calcium deposits distributed throughout their brains. The wide range of existing calcium-associateted pathologies demand further investigation and explanation. Could one aspect be our fixation on mega-dose calcium supplementation? Hmmm. Let us see....

THE BREAKING POINT -
How Too Much Calcium & Over-Medication Can Break Your Bones

by Sayer Ji (2006)
Yes, chalk. Conceal it within a capsule, a slickly glazed tablet, or in the form of a silky smooth liquid, and it is magically transformed into a “calcium supplement”: easy to swallow, “good for the bones” and a very profitable commodity for both the dietary supplement and mining industries. After all, in places like Florida, they are standing on billions upon billions of tons of the stuff. Calcium carbonate comes very cheap. But does it work? A review published in Osteoporosis International Aug. 2008 concluded that calcium monotherapy (without d) actually increases the rate of fracture in women. If we believe the results of this study, it would appear that calcium alone, may do nothing to prevent loss of bone quality or fracture. Were this the end of the story, we might write off the $100 or more we spend on calcium supplements every year as a loss, and start drinking more milk. Not so quick! The Harvard Nurses’ Study, involving 78,000 nurses and 12 years long, demonstrated clearly that the more dairy you consume, the higher rate of bone fracture you will experience. In fact, in countries where both dairy consumption and overall calcium levels in the diet are the lowest, bone fracture rates are also the lowest (see: The China Study). Osteoporosis, after all, is a complex disease process, involving lack of strenuous exercise, chronic inflammation, multiple mineral and vitamin deficiencies, inadequate production of steroid hormones, and many other known and unknown factors, the least of which is in any probability related to a lack of elemental calcium in the diet.

If we rule out drug (e.g. steroids, acid-blockers) and hyperparathyroidism-induced osteoporosis, arguably the two main contributing factors are:

1) Dietary Acidosis: caused by the excessive consumption of acid forming foods like starchy grains, beans, dairy and meat, all of which result in the leaching of the alkaline mineral stores in our bones. (Additionally, the consumption of highly acidic substances like coffee, alcohol, sugar, over the counter and prescribed drugs, and even the metabolic byproducts of chronic stress can all put the acid/alkaline balance beyond the tipping point). The flipside is under-consumption of alkalinizing fruits and vegetables which disburden the skeletal system of their sacrifical, acid-neutralizing role.

2) Malabsorption Syndrome: caused by the consumption of wheat, dairy, soy and corn. All four of these foods are used to produce industrial adhesives, e.g .wheat = book binding glue, dairy = elmer’s glue, soy = plywood glue, corn = cardboard glue, and their ingestion leads to a disruption in the absorptive capacity of the villi in the intestines through “coating” and “atrophy” of the villi. Moreover, all four foods can cause an autoimmune response which results directly in damage to these villi. (For More Information Read: “Unglued: the Sticky Truth About Wheat, Diary, Corn & Soy.”)

Fortunately these two factors are completely preventable and treatable, having everything to do with the age old phrase: ‘we are what we eat,’ and the implicit counterpoint: ‘we are not what we do not eat.’ Not only is osteoporosis not caused by a lack of calcium, but it appears that excessive calcium intake may actually cause greater bone porosity and bone fracture rates later in life! After all, the average Chinese peasant eating a plant-based diet ingests approximately 200mg of food calcium a day – not the 1200mg a day the National Osteoporosis Foundation claims is necessary for women and men over 40 to maintain strong bones.

Paradoxically, not only does the afforementioned Chinese peasant have less dense bones than your average Westerner, but s(he) also has incomparably stronger bones. In fact, the Chinese have no traditional word for osteoporosis, and this is a 5,000 year old language! These facts beg for a scientific explanation. A Dutch researcher by the name of Thijs Klompmaker, in his 2000 article “Excessive Calcium Causes Osteoporosis” provides a brilliant explanation as to why too much calcium interferes with bone health. According to Klompmaker’s analysis, excessive calcium introduced through diary products and mineral supplementation coerces the bone-building cells known as osteoclasts to replicate prematurely, in effect causing a rapid and premature aging of the bone. Excess calcium in the blood can lead to the accumulation of plaque in the arteries and can exert both a hypertensive effect on the heart muscle and increase the risk of heart attack.

Excess calcium can also deposit into soft tissues, leading to osteoarthritis, muscle cramping, insomnia, constipation, kidney stones, and increased rates of breast and prostate cancers (note: calcium is mitogenic, stimulating proliferation of cells). To prevent this, the body shunts the extra calcium into the bone, where it is stored until it can be safely excreted. The problem with this protective measure is that when osteoblasts replicate approximately 60-70% die as they become part of the new bone mineral matrix they lay down. Because there are only a fixed number of replication cycles available to the body in a given lifetime, the bone density of those consuming excessive amounts of calcium may be greater earlier in life, but later in life there would be insufficient osteoblastic activity to countermand the bone-deconstructing activity of the osteoclasts.

Indeed, in Asia where calcium consumption is relatively low (approximatley 200 mg daily), peak bone mass is reached later in life, and bones remain stronger and more resistant to fracture later in life. Sadly, conventional medicine pays far too little if any attention to the link between dietary and tissue acidosis/malabsorption syndrome and osteoporosis in particular, and the obvious causal link between diet and disease processes, in general. Moreover, with its questionable bias towards viewing disease as genetically predetermined and treatable with toximolecular chemical therapies, the true causes of suffering are rarely perceived, treated and resolved. In fact today the primary medical intervention for osteoporosis is the use of bisphosphonates, a class of “bone-building” drugs (e.g. Fosomax, Actonel, Boniva), which are made from a chemical that can be found on the shelves of your local hardware store as an industrial cleaning solvent. The same thing used to remove repugnant soap scum from the bathtub or to prevent rusting and scaling on industrial equipment is being given to millions of Americans to “treat” their weakening bones.

These chemicals poison and have the potential to kill the group of bone-building cells known as the osteoclasts, which break down weak bone, making room for new, stronger bone that the osteoblasts put in its place. This unnatural intervention causes weak bone to accumulate beneath the new strong bone, resulting in an increase in bone density at the expense of bone quality. Three to five years into taking these drugs, though bone density usually increases, bone fracture rates may increase as well. The side effects of taking these drugs can be life-threatening, e.g. perforation of the intestines, ulceration of the stomach and intestines, liver and kidney damage, atrial fibrillation, spontaneous bone fractures and an irreversible degeneration of the jawbone known as osteonecrosis. To make matters worse, there is a systematic trend to label over 18 million Americans with a “disease” known as “osteopenia,” when in fact this is not a medically relevant term at all.

Osteopenia does not describe a disease state, nor is it an accurate predictor of future bone fracture rates. Technically speaking, “osteopenia” is defined having a T score -1 to -2 standard deviations from an arbitrarily defined norm, which is the approximate age in the human life cycle for peak bone mass: 25-30 years old. The Z score, were it to be emphasized, would take into the age of the person being evaluated (along with other variables such as well as sex, ethnicity, etc). The Z-score, because it is age-mediated, takes into account that as one ages the bone naturally becomes less dense. The use of the T-score generates the illusion that older men and women who are experiencing the natural gradual decline in bone density called aging are not going through a normal process but rather a disease process. This is all the more disturbing when we take into account that higher bone density later in life has been correlated with far higher rates of malignant bone cancer. (View studies here)

Ultimately the present T-score based bone density scoring system provides justification for prescribing unnecessary and extraordinarily dangerous medications. Bone health has everything to do with things we control, such as our ability to stay active, and what we ingest. We should not allow ourselves to be convinced that swallowing limestone supplements or metabolic poisons will in any way fill the void that a lack of genuine nutrition and exercise left there.

Here are a few tips that should help you go a long way in preventing or reversing bone loss: 1) Eat Protein and Vitamin C rich Fruits and Vegetables! All bone begins as collagen, a substance whose intricate triple helix structure is formed through the Vitamin C driven hydroxlation of the essential amino acids L-lysine and L-proline. Focusing on selecting a diet closer to our hunters and gathers appears to be a key factor in preserving both bone density and bone strength. And remember: Vitamin C is not the same thing as ascorbic acid. Szent-Gyorgyi who received the Nobel Prize for its discovery in 1937 himself concluded that you needed a whole food source of this vitamin, e.g. paprika or adrenal extract, and not the synthetic crystals we now carelessly identify with this life-giving food factor in food in order to prevent scurvy. [Psyche: Our experience with ascorbic acid has been literally miraculous, on the other hand, paprika has proved to be inflammatory!] 2) Get sunlight! Vitamin D supplements are to Sunlight, what ascorbic acid crystals are to the Vitamin C activity found in whole, raw food. 3) Vitamin K works with vitamin D, preventing hypercalcemia and ectopic calcification. It is is found in wonderfully nutrient-dense foods like Kale, and as a by-product of the metabolic activity of friendly bacteria in our gut.

The Sun itself provides both energy and information to the body. We should consider it essential, no less important than any other factor included within the Recommended Daily Allowance (RDA). 3) Green leafy vegetables! Kale, Collards,Chard, etc. Arguably, these amazing, life-giving vegetables pack more bone building punch than any other foods on the planet. Not only do these foods score high in plant-calcium, but according to the principles of biological transmutation laid down by the French scientist Louis Kervran (1901-1983), the magnesium, silica and potassium found abundantly in these foods can transmute through low energy nuclear transformation into additional calcium, as needed by the body. Foods like Kale are also extremely rich in the bone strengthening vitamins K, C, and the aforementioned amino acids L-lysine and L-proline. 4) Strenuous exercise. Use it or lose it. Lack of movement, in general, and lack of weight-bearing exercise in particular, can contribute to weakening bones. Even building sufficient muscle around our hips to provide cushioning, for instance, can go a long way in preventing a slip and fall from turning into a hip fracture and replacement. With a little research and a concerted effort we can take back control of our health and increase our sense of true well being.

To view biomedical citations on natural substances that build strong bone visit http://www.greenmedinfo.com/category/disease/osteoporosis

Further Research: The Shocking Truth about the Manufacturing of "Osteopenia" and "Osteoporosis,"and the connection between High Bone Density & Increased Rates Breast Cancer.
 
A year has passed and he is now eating well and all his teeth have come through. He is still drinking breast milk 2-6 times a night and once during the day. He has just turned 20 months, so we were wondering whether it is time to wean him. It kind of seems like a bad habit to wake up so many times during the night but then again he might still need it?
He is a lovely, clever and funny little boy but is it time to start introducing him to the realities of the world?
We are still co-sleeping so it might be a good idea to stop this as well?

Thanks!

Laura said:
Session Date: March 28th 2010

Q: (L) Now we have another series of questions, and I don't know if we're going to be able to get through all of them tonight. First question: "What is the optimal age of weaning a child from breast milk?" This is gonna be a loaded question, guys!

A: Depends on what kind of child you want to raise.

Q: (L) Okay, well, that’s a loaded answer! The general theory is that some cultures breast feed their children like three or four years or longer, and that this is taken also from the model of apes and chimpanzees. They breast feed their children, and it seems to suppress mating so that they don't have babies too often and it doesn't hurt their health and so forth.

A: Do you want to raise monkeys?

Q: (L) Well, no!

A: Monkeys also do not have sexual relations for recreation either.

Q: (L) Okay. So, having said all that, are you going to answer the question? What is the optimal age for weaning a child from breast milk?

A: Under optimal conditions, weaning should begin when the child is capable of eating well on his own.

Q: (Andromeda) That makes sense. As soon as they have teeth.

(L) Well, they said when they are able to eat well on their own. Just having teeth doesn't mean that you can necessarily eat well. You have to practice. So, I would say that probably means something like one year or thereabouts. By then, you probably have enough teeth to eat with. I guess it's different for each baby. Whenever that baby has enough teeth and enough practice, that means it's time to wean that baby. But there can probably be a general time frame. Okay, the next question: "How does prolonged breast feeding affect the child's emotional development?"

A: Breast feeding is problematical for all the reasons that you already know. The toxicity of the mother must be considered. The child certainly benefits from the food provided by nature, but again, we ask, what kind of child do you wish to raise?

Q: (L) Well, I think we want to raise children that are capable of soul development. I guess that's what we want to do.

A: Yes? Then you must lay down the foundation and pattern. Let us ask you a question: If you had not had certain traumas, would you have felt so determined to find answers to the suffering of humanity???

Q: (L) No, I guess if I'd had a perfect childhood and if everything had been perfect and nice, I guess I would have been a potato. [laughter] I guess I would have been a monkey!

A: Yes.

Q: (L) So, what you're suggesting is that you lay down a foundation of security, and then you begin to introduce patterns of frustration or whatever of the child having to confront themselves?

(Ark) Challenges.

(L) Yeah, challenges. So then you set up challenges for the child to meet or overcome?

A: Yes. And fairly early too!

Q: (L) What do you mean by "fairly early"?

A: Starting with weaning!

Q: (L) Okay, this next question is weird. It's written in a really weird way. “Is co-sleeping recommended?”

A: In some cases for limited periods. Keep in mind that if you lay down the pattern early in a secure and loving way, the child is not overly traumatized when faced with reality. If the child is born and then lives in an external "womb", he has not really been born now has he?

Q: (L) Next question: What are the negative consequences of co-sleeping?

A: That should be obvious from the previous responses.

Q: (L) But certainly co-sleeping on occasion, like if the child is upset or sick, is okay?

A: Of course!!!

Q: (Perceval) If you have a child that's been overly mothered from a long time and sheltered from reality and from challenges, then when they do face challenges later on, they can't handle it. They fly into illusion.

(Burma Jones) Or you have a lot of children with domineering fathers who say, "The kid's gotta learn his lessons!" And they kind of have a point, except that it's not done lovingly and in consideration of the fact that the child needs time and needs to be introduced gently to these challenges.

(Ark) I think this sleeping is not good for husband and wife.

(PoB) It's not good for the mother's relationship with the husband.

(Ark) That's what I mean. I mean, the father is patient for 5 months, 6 months. [laughter] (Burma Jones) Not so good for the marital relations.

(Ark) I think that if woman does it, usually she will have different reasons than that just "It's good for the child."

(L) Yeah, a lot of women are probably co-sleeping because they want to keep the husband away.

(PoB) They have a good excuse.

(L) They have a good excuse not to work on their own intimacy issues and to create a true parental unit that takes care of a child.

(Ark) It's a good way to punish the husband for all previous things he did to her.

(Perceval) They need Eiriu Eolas!


END OF SESSION



Remember reading in one of the sessions that the first trauma should be weaning.
 
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