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Iron: Making Sure Your Baby Gets It

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We’ve all heard that breast is best, but one of the drawbacks of exclusively breastfed babies is that they are at risk for iron deficiency. Although formula-fed babies get iron through fortified formula, breast milk does not contain adequate amounts. The LA Times reported that “Studies have shown that 4 percent of 6 month olds, and 12 percent of 12 month olds are iron deficient. Children between the ages of 1-3 years of age have rates of iron deficiency between 6-15 percent. Preterm infants, infants who are exclusively breastfed and infants who are at risk for developmental disabilities seem to be at higher risk to develop iron deficiency.” So what’s the big deal? A lot, actually. Dr. Frank Greer, co-author of a Read More

What to Eat When Breastfeeding

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By Lisa Pecos

During pregnancy, new moms have to worry about everything they put into their bodies. And while there are many ideas about what is best for a developing baby when it is in the womb, there is widespread agreement about the things that definitely should be avoided and what foods are healthy for the unborn child. But when it comes to post-birth health, the answers are not so clear-cut. The good news is that if you just eat healthy you should be fine, but there are additional concerns to keep in mind.

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Is Co-Sleeping With a Baby a Good Idea?

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By Lisa Pecos

Co-sleeping is one of the most controversial issues in contemporary parenting, with some parents advocating it as a beneficial way to encourage parent-child bonding, and others arguing that it is not only unnecessary but dangerous. While there are no easy answers to this question, and both the benefits and the risks of co-sleeping are certainly real in many respects, most experts ultimately recommend moderation. Let us look more deeply at this issue and consider some of the main issues involved.

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Improvement Needed in U.S. Breastfeeding Rates

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By Lisa Pecos

Thanks to widespread educational efforts, most modern mothers are very aware of the importance of breastfeeding their babies, and research indicates that we have come a long way in the past generation. However, according to the most recent CDC Breastfeeding Report Card, we still have room for improvement, especially among certain subgroups in the U.S. Because breastfeeding has huge benefits for young children, we need to continue working on this issue to bring the numbers higher.

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What is Colic, and What Should You Do About It?

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By Lisa Pecos Babies are supposed to cry. Some do it more than others, and all babies cry a lot from time to time, but up to a certain point we usually do not think of babies’ crying as a big deal. Most of the time, it just means that the baby is feeling hungry or tired, and these problems are relatively easy to fix. But there is a certain percentage of babies-estimated to be between 15 and 25 percent-whose crying goes beyond normal. They cry seemingly all the time and are inconsolable, even when they are rested, well-fed, not too hot, and not too cold. Pediatricians refer to babies like this as “colic.” Read More

Essential Items to Have Before the Baby Comes

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By Lisa Pecos

If you are a soon-to-be first-time parent, you are probably already working through your checklist of items you will need for the new baby. But these things can add up quickly, and you have so much to think about right now that it is easy for little things to slip your mind. And it is best to get these things taken care of as soon as possible, because once the baby comes you are not going to have nearly as much time to get your shopping done.

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Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: Causes and Prevention

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By Lisa Pecos

Sudden infant death syndrome, also known as SIDS, is one of the most tragic and mysterious causes of death among young children. Although the syndrome has been around for thousands of years, we have yet to figure out exactly what causes it. In all likelihood, it results from a variety of factors that may differ from case to case. The good news, however, is that modern research has at least provided us with a set of practices that we can use to dramatically reduce the risk of SIDS in our children.

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Daddy-Baby Bonding: How to Strengthen the Connection

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By Marc Couriol

After nine months of carrying a child to term and then being the primary source of the newborn baby’s nourishment, mothers generally have no difficulty bonding with their babies. Plus, there is that whole maternal instinct thing, which makes many new mothers reluctant to leave their babies’ side for the first few weeks. But while the mother-baby bond is extremely important, the bond between father and child must not be overlooked, and forming a bond during these early stages of a child’s life can be crucial.

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Helping Baby Sleep: Strategies and Safety

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By Lisa Pecos

For new parents, getting the baby into a regular sleeping pattern can be a challenge. Newborns simply do not seem to be on the same schedule as the rest of us. They fall asleep whenever they get tired, which can be at unpredictable times, and they wake up at seemingly random intervals. This is part of what makes the first several months such a difficult stage for many parents; in accommodating the baby’s irregular patterns, it is hard to get enough sleep for yourself. When you combine this with all the other things new parents have to think about, these first few months can be exhausting.

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