honey. Honey can contains spores of the bacterium
Clostritium botulinum.This bacterium causes a seri-
ous, potentially fatal disease called infant botulism.
Older children and adults are not affected.C. botu-
linum.can also be found in maple syrup, corn syrup,
and undercooked foods.
well cooked eggs can be offered between 6-9 months
(later if any family history of atopy), fish (can be
offered from 6-9 months, shellfish, peanuts, and pea-
nut butter. These often trigger an allergic reaction
during the first year.
orange, grapefruit, or other citrus juices. These often
cause a painful diaper rash during the first year.
home prepared spinach, collard greens, turnips, or
beets. These may contain high levels of harmful
nitrates from the soil. Jarred versions of these foods
are okay.
raisins, whole grapes, hot dog rounds, hard candy,
popcorn, raw carrots, nuts, and stringy meat. These
and similar foods can cause choking, a major cause
of accidental death in infants and toddlers.
PrecautionsMothers with certain health conditions such as
those mentioned above should not breastfeed. Women
with chronic diseases should discuss this with their
healthcare provider.
Mothers using certain drugs should not breastfeed.
Parents using concentrated liquid and powdered
formulas must measure and mix formula accurately.
Inaccurate measuring can harm the infant’s growth
and development. Water used in mixing formula
must be free of pathogens, contaminants, and exces-
sive levels offluoride
InteractionsStreet drugs, many prescription and over-the-
counter drugs, and alcohol pass into breast milk and
have the potential to permanently harm an infant’s
growth and development. Before taking any drugs, a
pregnant or breastfeeding woman should consult her
healthcare provider. Caffeine also passes into breast
milk. Some women find that even moderate amounts
of coffee or caffeinated sodas cause their infant to
become restless and irritable, while others find little
effect. Breastfeeding women should monitor their caf-
feine intake and try to keep it to a minimum.
ComplicationsMany women have trouble getting the newborn to
latch on and begin breastfeeding. This can usually be
overcome with the help of a lactation consultant or
pediatric nurse. Breastfeeding can cause the mother to
develop sore, infected nipples. This is usually a tem-
porary condition that should not be a reason to stop
breastfeeding.
Complications from bottle feeding tend to be
related to the infant’s difficulty in digesting formula.
Some infants become gassy and colicky and may fuss,
cry for long periods, and spit up cow’s milk-based
formula. A switch to soy-based formula on the advice
of a healthcare professional usually relieves this prob-
lem. Other complications of formula feeding are gen-
erally related to improper mixing of formula.Parental concernsBreastfeeding parents often are concerned about
whether their baby is getting enough milk, since there
is no way to directly measure how much milk a baby
consumes when nursing. Newborns should have a
minimum of 6-8 wet diapers and four bowel move-
ments during the first two weeks of life. As the child
grows, these numbers will gradually decrease. In addi-
tion, a woman’s breasts should feel hard and full
(sometimes even painful) before nursing, and softer
after nursing. Newborns nurse every 2–3 hours, but
they should seem satisfied after nursing. The most
definite sigh that the baby is getting enough food is
that he or she is gaining weight.
Infants grow in irregular spurts. They may eat
hungrily for a few days and then eat little few days
later. Parents often worry about this, but it is a normal
occurrence.
The transition to solid food is often a slow proc-
ess. Infants eat very small amounts and often must be
exposed to a new food multiple times before they will
eat it willingly. Since childhoodobesityis a major
problem in the United States, parents and caregivers
should avoid encouraging the infant to overeat.Resources
BOOKS
Berggren, Kirsten.Weaning Without Working: A Working
Mother’s Guide to Breastfeeding.Amarillo, TX: Hale
Pub., 2006.
Bhatia, Jatinder, ed.Perinatal Nutrition: Optimizing Infant
Health and Development.New York: Marcel Dekker,
2005.Infant nutrition