Welcome to your newest, and most exciting adventure… parenting!! We, at the Mountain-River Naturopathic Clinic, believe that you have a profound influence on the health of your child. This influence begins now. Food is your most powerful medicine, and the habits you instill in your child early on will greatly affect the choices he or she makes later in life.
Breast is best
Studies are unanimous, and common sense tells us, that mother’s milk is the perfectly designed first food for human babies. Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients, including fats, carbohydrates and proteins, required for optimal growth. Breast milk provides the perfect ratio of all the vitamins and minerals baby needs, as well as immunoglobulins (anti-bodies) to protect baby from infection and plant the seeds for a strong and healthy immune system.
We encourage mothers to nurse as long as possible, ideally at least 12 months. Breast feeding is associated with healthier and happier babies. Breast milk increases the baby’s immune defenses, leading to fewer childhood illnesses, such as ear infections, respiratory illnesses and urinary tract infections. Nursing also encourages bonding between mother and child, and new research suggests that breast fed babies may have lower rates of infant mortality, as well as decreased risk of obesity and diabetes later in life.
Some new mothers encounter challenges to breast feeding, such as improper latch, insufficient milk production, sensitive nipples or clogged ducts (mastitis). With help from local resources, such as a lactation consultant, La Leche League or a naturopathic doctor*, most moms are able to overcome these obstacles, and successfully nurse their newborn.
Food can be your best medicine or your worst enemy
The majority of modern illness is a result of poor nutritional choices. Chronic disease, such as autoimmunity, heart disease and diabetes, could be almost completely avoided with optimal healthy food choices. Unfortunately, the “standard American diet” is devoid of nutrients, and high in calories, sugar and toxins.
Feeding infants exclusively breast milk ensures they receive optimal nutrition, and helps avoid exposure to unhealthy foods. It is, however, important that the nursing mother be aware of what she is eating and drinking, as many drugs, pesticides and a variety of toxic chemicals can pass through the milk. Mother and baby will be healthiest when mom consumes a balanced, whole-food, organic diet that includes a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables.
If a baby has allergic tendencies, they can respond to mother’s milk. Proteins in food, such as wheat or dairy, can pass through breast milk and cause an allergic response in the nursing baby. In this case, the mother may need to avoid the offending food while she is breast feeding.
Solid Food Introduction
For the first months of your baby’s life, the best choice is breast milk, exclusively. Usually around six months of age, babies will express interest in solid foods, and their digestive tracts are ready to digest new foods. This is a critical time for your child’s future health and nutritional habits. Introduce new foods one-at-a-time with caution and intention. Watch for any signs of food allergies or sensitivities, such as colic, rash, fussiness, diarrhea, constipation and congestion. Food reactions usually manifest within 48 hours of consumption, so it is best to introduce new foods several days apart from each other.
Common allergens to introduce with caution include: dairy, wheat, corn, citrus, peanuts, and shellfish.
When introducing new foods, it is best to start with vegetables before fruit, in order to avoid sugar cravings and set healthy habits early on. Some suggestions include yam, beets, carrots, green beans and carrots.
Naturopathic Support*
Naturopathic doctors are experts in natural health. If you have any questions about breast feeding or keeping your child healthy, we encourage you to call. The Mountain-River Naturopathic clinic is a pediatric resource for natural, holistic care, including comprehensive well-child examinations. We provide natural alternatives for childhood ailments such as colds, ear infections, rashes and colic. We also offer natural, non-invasive allergy treatments for kids of all ages.
Feel free to stop by our Frisco Main Street clinic, have a cup of tea and relax with your baby in the privacy of our breast-feeding room, designed specifically for babies and their new moms.
Remember…start now!! It is much easier to establish healthy habits than to reverse bad habits later on. We encourage you to make mindful, healthy choices when you feed your family, especially your newborn baby.
