They are adoptive parents.
They have HIV, active tuberculosis, or hepatitis C.
These diseases can be passed on to their infants
through breast milk.
They use street drugs or abuse prescription medi-
cines. Many drugs pass into breast milk and can
permanently damage a baby’s health.
They are taking chemotherapy drugs, certain mood
stabilizers, migraine headache medications or other
drugs that pass into breast milk and whose effect on
the infant is negative or unknown.
They have alcoholism or are binge drinkers. The
alcohol they drink will be present in breast milk.
They have difficult to control diabetes and may have
increased difficulty controlling their blood sugar
level if they choose to breastfeed.
They are going to be separated from their baby for
significant periods.
They have had breast surgery that interferes with
milk production.
They are emotionally repelled by the idea of
breastfeeding.
A few babies are born with a genetic inborn error in
metabolism that prevents them from digesting any
mammalian milk. These babies must be fed soy-
based formula in order to survive.Pros and cons of formula feeding
Formula feeding has some definite advantages.
Anyone, not just the mother, can feed the infant.
This gives the mother more flexibility in her schedule
and allows the father or other relatives to enjoy a
special closeness with the baby that comes with feed-
ing. Also, the mother does not need to be concerned
about how her diet affects her baby and she does not
need to worry about breast milk leakage. In addition,
since formula is digested more slowly than breast milk,
feedings are less frequent. Some women feel uncom-
fortable nursing in front of other people or find it
difficult to locate places to nurse in private. Formula
feeding eliminates this problem.
There are also disadvantages to formula feeding.
Aside from the fact that formula is not an exact dupli-
cate of breast milk and is harder to digest, it also costs
more and requires more advance preparation. Bottles
need to be washed, and the water used to mix formula,
at least in the early months, needs to be boiled or be
special bottle water suitable for infants. The Academy
of General Dentistry warns that some public water
supplies are fluoridated at levels too high for infants,
and that fluorodosis of the primary (baby) teeth may
result. Fluorodosis is a cosmetic problem. It causesbrown spots on the teeth, but does not weaken them
in any way. Finally, formula must be refrigerated once
it is mixed or a can is opened. It can only be kept about
2 days in the refrigerator, so is there is more likely to be
waste. Likewise, when traveling, bottles need to be
refrigerated. Although most babies do not mind cold
formula, many parent like to heat their child’s bottle
to body temperature, another inconvenience when
traveling.Transitioning to solid foods
When an infant is between four and six months
old, most pediatricians recommend introducing the
infant to solid food. By this age, infants begin to
have the muscle coordination to swallow runny solids.
If there is a family history of food allergies, some
pediatricians recommend waiting until 6 months or
older to start solid food.
Normally solid feeding begins with a small
amount of iron-fortified rice or other single-grain
cereal mixed into a slurry the consistency of thin
gravy with formula or breast milk. The infant is then
offered a small amount of cereal on a small spoon. It
may take many attempts before the infant is happy
with the new food. After runny cereal is accepted, a
thicker cereal can be offered. When the child eats this
with ease, parents can begin feeding one new pureed
food every week. Commercial baby food is available in
jars or frozen. Baby food can also be made at home
using a blender or food processor. Portions can be
frozen in an ice cube tray and thawed as needed.
About the same time babies begin eating solid
food, they are ready to take small sips of apple,
grape, or pear juice (but not citrus juices) from a cup.
Juice should not be served in a bottle. By the end of the
first year, infants can eat a variety of ground or
chopped soft foods that the rest of the family eats.Foods that should not be fed to infants
Some foods are not appropriate for children dur-
ing their first year. These include:
homemade formula. The nutrient requirements for
infants are very specific and even a small excesses or
deficits of a particular nutrient can permanently
harm the child’s development.
cow’s milk. Plain cow’s milk should not be offered
before 6 months, after this it can be introduced in
small amounts as part of weaning foods but should
not be offerd as the main drink before age 1. The
cow’s milk in formula has been altered to make it
acceptable for infants.Infant nutrition