Raising healthy children is an awesome opportunity and responsibility that begins with conception and continues through birth, infancy, adolescence, puberty and young adulthood.
Most of us want to provide a safe, nurturing environment and nutritious food so that our children have, at the very least, the basics they need to develop a healthy mind and body.
Some of us wait until we know we're pregnant before we start making healthy lifestyle changes but just for the record let me say that it is best to prepare well before you become pregnant.
That means maintaining a healthy weight and body mass index, eating whole foods (organic when possible), exercising daily, limiting or eliminating alcohol (definitely eliminating once you become pregnant), quitting smoking, and using natural household products to prevent unnecessary exposure to toxins in the environment around us.
Women of childbearing age may consider taking a prenatal vitamin supplement. Prenatal vitamins contain a very important nutrient, folic acid, that may help prevent neural tube defects, which can occur before a woman even knows she's pregnant. During pregnancy your body needs more of all the essential nutrients than it did before you were pregnant.
Eating well during pregnancy isn't much different than eating well in general, but you'll need an average of about 300 more calories daily and those calories should come from lean and clean proteins, healthy fats, and whole grains. The same is true when you're nursing, in fact depending on your activity level you may need even more calories, so you'll want to discuss those needs with your doctor or midwife.
As you prepare for baby, one of the first things to consider is how you will feed him/her. What you will do if you need to supplement your nursing? What type of bottle will you choose and what brand of formula? There has been much talk about BPA (bisphenol A), a chemical found in certain types of plastic and linings of canned products. BPA is considered to be an "endocrine disrupter," which basically means that BPA can mimic the body's own hormones and possibly cause negative health effects. There is much debate still on this chemical and other endocrine disrupters including phthalates (found in plastics, lotions, shampoos and more) and organizations such as the National Research Center for Women and Families are challenging the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) to further investigate the possible adverse effects that such chemicals may have on developing infants and children.
The good news is that companies like Playtex, Evenflo, and Medela are all offering BPA-free plastic feeding and storage bottles and/or glass bottles. Now, what will you put in those bottles? Most of us know that breast milk contains all the nutrients necessary for baby's healthy growth and development. In particular, are two fatty acids, DHA and AA, which are essential for healthy brain and cognitive development. Up until recently, most formula manufacturers didn't include DHA in their formulas and organic formulas were unheard of. Today there are many formula options.
Newer formulas on the market contain ARASCO (ARA Single Cell Oil) and DHASCO (DHA Single Cell Oil) which are sort of hybrid versions of DHA and AA. Although the idea of added DHA and ARA in formula sounds like a good idea, initial evidence suggest that these products are not the same as the DHA and AA that you would find in breast milk. In a recent study of healthy infants, feeding the infants a soy-based formula supplemented with ARASCO and DHASCO resulted in an increase of these fatty acids in the infants red blood cells and plasma. The formula appeared to be well tolerated. Whether or not these formulas are better in the long term is yet to be determined. Organic dairy- and soy-based formulas are also now available and though they may cost a bit extra, they have my vote in terms of quality of ingredients. What I like about the organic baby formulas is that they don't contain any artificial colors, flavors, or preservatives, no ingredients from genetically altered plants or plants grown with synthetic pesticides and no milk from dairy cows treated with antibiotics, growth hormone and/or steroids.
Moving on to the other half, so to speak, are diaper options. Without seeming too preachy, going natural with either "green" disposable diapers or cloth (hemp or cotton) diapers is really the way to go. Many disposable diapers are full of synthetic chemicals that can cause severe health reactions. Sodium polyacrylate, dioxin (a cancer-causing agent), chlorine, and tributyltin (TBT) are examples of toxic chemicals that may be present in disposable diapers.
Baby wipes and creams can contain chemicals like propylene glycol (commonly found in antifreeze), butyl alcohol, chlorine, fragrance, to name a few. They should perhaps be renamed chemical wipes. A handful of natural product companies such as Seventh Generation and Tushies are making eco-friendly diapers and wipes a more earth-friendly alternative for consumers. If you are feeling more ambitious, you can make your own wipes by cutting out some squares of flannel material and following a recipe of aloe vera gel, olive oil, rosewater, glycerin, and a dash of lavender essential oil.
As our children get older and it's time to introduce solid foods, remember that homemade, organic vegetables, fruits and whole grains are best, but when you have to resort to prepared foods, go for organic. The less their exposure to environmental toxins, the better; especially when it comes to their developing brains and bodies. Our kids inevitably end up with environmental exposure to chemicals, but let's give them the best start possible by feeding them clean food. Have fresh fruits and vegetables washed and easily accessible so kids can grab them when they are looking for a quick snack. Avoid the lure of sugary drinks and sodas and opt for organic milk (or enriched soy milk), 100% fruit juice and/or water. Serve whole grains and clean, lean proteins at mealtime and enjoy time together in the kitchen so you can teach your kids the "how to's and why's" of healthy eating and cooking.
Raising healthy babies and kids is a balancing act. With responsibility comes pleasure and satisfaction. Enjoy the opportunity.
