Re: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old

[Lesley Kuliukas]

UNICEF releases new guidance on bed sharing for breastfeeding mothers-05/09/2003 UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative, with the support of the Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths (FSID), has launched a new information leaflet for breastfeeding mothers who are thinking of sharing a bed with their babies. This is the first time that the two organisations have released joint information. The UNICEF leaflet 'Sharing a bed with your baby' provides parents with accurate and helpful information about sleeping safely with their babies. It recognises that mothers who sleep with their babies find breastfeeding easier but also offers guidance on avoiding accidents and gives clear warnings against unsafe bed sharing. Parents are cautioned against sharing a bed with their baby if they smoke, have drunk alcohol, taken drugs or medication that makes them sleepy, or are extremely tired, as bed sharing under those conditions increases the risk of cot death. Parents are also informed of the dangers of sleeping with their babies on sofas. But the leaflet supports breastfeeding mothers who don't fall into these risk categories to use safe bed-sharing as a way of providing the enormous health benefits of breastfeeding. "This leaflet should be extremely useful for both health professionals and parents," said Andrew Radford, Programme Director of UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative. "We know that many parents take their babies into bed with them for at least part of the night and that this can be a very positive experience, particularly if they're breastfeeding. However, we want to make sure that it's also a safe experience. By issuing a joint leaflet, UNICEF and FSID are giving clear and unambiguous information about both the benefits of bed sharing and the times when it is not safe" he added. Accessible via www.babyfriendly.org.uk/parents, more than half a million copies of the leaflet will be given free-of-charge each year to new mothers via the Baby Welcome sample packs distributed in hospitals. Commenting on the launch, FSID Director Joyce Epstein said, "We support the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative's efforts to promote safe bed sharing and we are delighted to be working with them." For more information or to arrange an interview with Andrew Radford at UNICEF UK's Baby Friendly Initiative please contact: Jo Fletcher in the UNICEF UK Press Office on: 020 7312 7677 or email [EMAIL PROTECTED] Notes to Editor: The Baby Friendly Initiative is a global programme of UNICEF and the World Health Organisation which works with the health services to improve practice so that parents are enabled and supported to make informed choices about how they feed and care for their babies. Health care facilities which adopt practices to support successful breastfeeding receive the prestigious UNICEF/WHO Baby Friendly award. In the UK, the Baby Friendly Initiative is commissioned by various parts of the health service to provide advice, support, training, networking, assessment and accreditation. There are currently 49 fully accredited Baby Friendly health care facilities in the UK and another 75 which have been awarded the Certificate of Commitment, the first stage towards becoming Baby Friendly. Breastfeeding and health Babies who are not breastfed are more likely to suffer several severe illnesses, including gasto-enteritis, respiratory, urinary tract and ear infections. In childhood they are also at greater risk of asthma, eczema, and diabetes, while as adults they are more likely to suffer high blood pressure, obesity and other cardiovascular risk factors. Mothers who breastfeed for longest are least likely to suffer from breast and ovarian cancer and osteoporosis in later life. Full details can be found on the UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative website: www.babyfriendly.org.uk The Foundation for the Study of Infant Deaths is one of the UK's leading baby charities working to prevent sudden infant deaths and promote baby health. FSID funds research, promotes health advice to parents and professionals and supports bereaved families. More information on FSID and the health advice to protect babies from cot deaths and accidents can be seen at www.sids.org.uk/fsid or via the Helpline on 0870 787 0554. ----- Original Message ----- From: Pinky McKay To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 9:32 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old Hi Rhonda,   Yep - there is a difference isnt there - I reckon I couldnt have stopped my boys when they were ready - one discovered the fruit cupboard at a crawling age (it was low down) and used to leave little teeth marks in the apples -Id discover a little bum sticking out of the cupboard!   Chasing a kid with a dried apricot!! What power for her. We can create battles cant we -sad that none of these problems are necessary if we lighten up.   Pinky     From: Rhonda To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Wednesday, September 03, 2003 10:49 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old Yes, some wont eat - but it is important to offer - there is a difference between offering and force feeding dear.  Making food acceptable and available - some people just don't offer (there is a huge difference).   I also know of a child who at 3yrs was almost solely breast fed because they were so keen onbreast feeding they didn't let her eat until 12 months and then she was not interested and she was very underweight - now at 12yrs (I gather she is not still breast fed!) but she is very over weight, quite an eating disorder.  Hmm!  But, Mum and Dad used to chase her around the house to get her to have a nibble of a dried apricot etc. *grin*  So, I agree with the entire attitude thing but still think it is important to 'offer' from a young age - and as I said even that taste of vegi's 1/2 a tspoon a day (even if they spit it out) educates the taste buds and makes food acceptable.   Rhonda     -------Original Message-------   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Wednesday, 03 September 2003 07:57:45 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old   Hi Ronda, i beg to differ - actually some babies wont touch solids despite them being available -my daughter (now 23 and a healthy vegetarian who has no eating disorders or food fusses and didnt as a child)  had two siblings to copy and was always at the table on my lap at meals and offered food -this baby would reach for a toy and chew on it but refused any offer of solids until 11 months . She had been a colicky baby who reacted to foods - particularly citrus in my diet up to 6 months so I surmised she was possibly allergic -yet at the later age she didnt react or refuse any foods once she started to gradually eat.   I have known lots of babies within La Leche League (I was a group leader for 14 years) who took solids much later (in the second half of their first year) and only ever saw one who showed signs of lethargy -this bub had a vegan mum and after the mum had B12 injections the baby remarkably became energised and crawled etc within days. All the other bubs who started foods later were healthy happy kids and didnt have any food fights or fussiness as toddlers -I think the parents attitude (ie forcing) creates more eating problems since it can be more of a power reaction/ battle. When we are relaxed and following the baby's lead - whether it be with eating or sleeping etc - we avoid battles over such natural functions .   I do agree though that good old fruit and veges would be a great start.     Pinky ----- Original Message ----- From: Rhonda To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Sent: Tuesday, September 02, 2003 11:47 PM Subject: Re: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old What ever happened to good old vegetables and fruit? Mashed Vegi's and stewed fruit would be a good start - I used to pressure cook the vegi's - use the juice to mash them and then cool what was left of the juice as a very healthy drink - my babies loved it.  Also mention if left too long to introduce new tastes and experiences, it may cause eating problems, digestive problems and eating disorders. My 4 yr old boy started on mashed vegi's at about 6 - 7 months now loves broccoli and peas and my daughter started eating a little younger and at nine she eats anything - asparagus, brussel sprouts, pumpkin, salad, letuce, celery, tomatoes - not so keen on lollies. She was prem and started solids at a corrected 3 months, actual 6 months and has absolutely no dietary or eating problems.  My son was full term and is so fussy compared to her but still pinches the broccoli off everyone elses plate, have to eat quick or he gets it.  LOL.   From about 6 to 8 months they do need to introduce some food even if it is just one spoon a day - it is important to start with something.   Rhonda.     -------Original Message-------   From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Date: Monday, 01 September 2003 11:25:19 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Cc: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: [ozmidwifery] solids for 11mth old   a mother who is fully b/f her baby on demand at 11 months is asking me why her daughter has to have food? I chatted about fe oral experiences teeth social and food experiences. the mother would like a ref for introducing solids that are organic and wheat and diary free any good info or web sites etc jan     ____________________________________________________   IncrediMail - Email has finally evolved - Click Here

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