Date: March 7th 2005

Baby 411 E-News, March 2005
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BABY 411 NEWS UPDATE: March 2005
The free eNewsletter for the readers of BABY 411
http://www.Baby411.com

In this issue:
1. AAP releases new breastfeeding and introduction of solid foods recommendations
2. Good bones: It’s not just about milk
3. Environmental exposures: Rocket fuel found in breastmilk?
4. Do thumbsucking and pacifiers affect the teeth?

1. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) releases new breastfeeding/solid food guidelines
New recommendations were made last month by the AAP to stress the importance of breastfeeding and encourage families to breastfeed for the entire first year of life.

Here are the highlights:
-Moms are encouraged to ‘room-in’ with their newborns to facilitate breastfeeding.

-Trained caregivers should formally evaluate breastfeeding (latch, position, etc) at least twice daily while newborns are in the hospital. (If that doesn’t happen—you should demand it!)

-Supplements (water, sugar water, formula) should not be given to a breastfed newborn unless ordered by the baby’s physician for a medical reason.

-Pacifiers are discouraged until breastfeeding is going well.

-Breastfed babies should see their healthcare provider at 3-5 days of life, and again at two weeks of life for routine well child care.

-“Complementary foods” (solid food) should be introduced at SIX months of life. (Good luck convincing your own mother about this one)

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2. Good bones: It’s not just about milk
A study published in the March 2005 issue of the journal, Pediatrics, reviewed the previous research regarding calcium intake in childhood. Daily calcium intake for kids is meant to improve bone density and prevent osteoporosis later in life. But does calcium play the biggest role in making healthy bones? And is milk the best way to get calcium?

Each 8 oz. cup of milk has about 250mg of calcium. The National Academy of Science’s recommended calcium intake is 500 mg a day for age 1-3 years, 800mg a day for age 4-8 years, and a difficult to achieve…1300mg a day for age 9-18 years.

Here’s what the study found:
-Exercise during teenage years is the most modifiable variable that promotes long- term healthy bone growth.
-Dairy products may be the most convenient way to get calcium, but calcium in other foods (like dark green leafy vegetables) is better absorbed. Note to parents: The study did not suggest how to get kids to eat those foods!
-Calcium supplements and calcium-fortified beverages have comparable absorption to the calcium in dairy products. (Good news for milk-allergic kids.)

Bottom line:
-Milk is still a great source for calcium, protein, Vitamin D and other vitamins/minerals.
-There are other good sources of calcium, and other important factors for healthy bones-…including regular physical activity.
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3. Environmental exposures: Rocket fuel in breast milk?

You may have heard about the latest story about a chemical called perchlorate found in high levels in breast milk. Although the breast milk issue got attention, this chemical is also found in drinking water and cow’s milk. The Environmental Protection Agency’s current standards for acceptable perchlorate levels appear to be based on safety levels for adults, and not infants or pregnant women. Perchlorate blocks iodide, interfering with thyroid hormone production.

Take home message: There are many environmental toxins that our children are exposed to today (whether they are breastfed or not). Hopefully more steps will be taken to protect our kids as more information of these health hazards come to light.

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4. Thumbsuckers and pacifiers affect teeth

Okay Moms and Dads, we know you don’t want to hear this one…A recent study in Italy looked at over 1000 kids who were thumbsuckers or pacifier lovers for more than one year of their life. Pediatric dentists looked at 3-5 year olds and found that the thumbsuckers and pacifier lovers had malocclusion (altered bite position) twice as often as their non-sucking peers. Also of note, breastfed kids had fewer problems with cross-bite than kids who were bottle fed.

Bottom line: The study does not address impact on adult teeth or bite position, so you don’t have to start saving money for the orthodontist yet. It would be nice to see long term follow up on these same kids.

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Thanks the news from here.
Best wishes,
Dr. Ari Brown and Denise Fields
Authors, Baby 411: Clear Answers and Smart Advice for your Baby’s First
Year.
http://www.Baby411.com

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