I made all sorts of mistakes with my first son. I call him my little guinea pig. I fed him "regular" formula (after exclusive breastfeeding didn't work out), he never ate organic, and I chose skincare formulas based on what smelled good (which I think contributed to his horrible sensitive skin today). But I learned from my mistakes, and I'm happy to say I feel much more confident in the decisions I'm making for my younger son (now almost 5 months old). Here's what I consider important:
- If you're going to make one change, make it feeding your baby organic. If you formula feed, it's not much more expensive to go organic. I use Earth's Best organic fomula which is only a few dollars more expensive than the cheap "regular" brand we used at first. By switching to organic not only do I feel better about what is entering my child's body, he also has not suffered from constipation or bad gas, both of which were major problems when he was on other formula. I found it cheapest at diapers.com (where I also buy diapers and Burt's Bees products). Trust me, it's worth the extra expense. At least give it a try and see how your baby responds to it. What can be more important than what your baby ingests?
* if you're new to diapers.com, use referral code "organicmomandchild" to save $10 off your first order and get free shipping every time on orders over $49. I order from the site a few times a month and I love it.
If you're already onto solids, it's worth it to feed your baby organic. They don't eat much when they're little and you'll feel so much better about what you're giving him. Earth's Best also makes solid baby food which you can also get at diapers.com but I've found much cheaper at Target. If you're going to use jar food, this is the best.
I like making my own baby food. It's much easier than you would think and it's a great feeling giving your kids something you made yourself so that you can be confident that there are no chemicals or toxins in it. Think of all the recalls you've heard of. It would be nice to not have to worry about it, wouldn't it? Here's how:
- Use fresh or frozen organic fruit or veggies. Steam veggies first, then either puree in a food processor or blender, or use a food mill. You can also use one of the "stick" blenders. Add water as needed to thin it out.
- Do the same for fruits, without cooking first. Start your baby on organic rice cereal (like Earth's Best), and when he's ready to move on, start with organce veggies (sweet potatoes, squash, carrots) then move to green (peas, beans, broccoli). After your baby has tried all these (feed new foods only one at a time for at least four or five days so you'll know what's causing any negative reaction) you can move on to fruits. Start with mild fruits like bananas, apples, and pears. Avoid citrus fruits until after 1 year.
It is easier than you would think, and you'll feel great doing it!
