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 Feeding babies solids too early may make fat toddlersFeeding a baby solid foods too early in life may increase his risk of becoming obese before reaching preschool, according to a new study in Pediatrics. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that new mothers breast-feed their babies for at least six months and introduce solid foods between 4 and 6 months. This new study finds that among formula-fed babies, those who were given solid foods before age 4 months had a higher risk of becoming obese. The study compared obesity rates among 847 3-year-olds. Researchers found that among children who were breast-fed for at least four months, the timing of solid-food introduction did not affect their odds of becoming obese at age 3. But among babies who were formula fed or who stopped breast-feeding before the age of 4 months, introducing solid food before 4 months was linked to a sixfold increase in the odds of that child becoming obese by age 3. "Our data support the existing American Academy of Pediatric Guidelines that suggest waiting until an infant is at least 4 months old before introducing solids. And what our study suggests is that increasing adherence to those guidelines across the U.S. population has the potential to reduce the risk of obesity in childhood," says study author Dr. Susanna Huh with Children's Hospital Boston. The more moms work, the heavier kids get Researchers aren't exactly sure why introducing solids early may be linked to obesity. Their best guess is that formula-fed infants are consuming more milk than breast-fed children and therefore getting more calories. But Dr. Frank Greer, former chairperson of the AAP Committee on Nutrition, is puzzled by the fact that the researchers didn't find an increase in weight gain in the children who were introduced to solids early. "They didn't show that there was any increase in rate of growth in the formula-fed babies before that {age 3}. It makes me wonder if this is just a marker for people that introduced solid foods between 2 – 4 months, that their overall diet is poor in general," suggests Greer. Poor eating may have led to the weight gain by age 3, the doctor theorizes, not the timing of the introduction of solids into the diets of babies. More research may offer clarification, but in the meantime, it's important to remember to breast-feed your infant as long as possible and to introduce solids later rather than sooner.
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I don't completely buy this; I'm sorry. My son is now 16. When he was an infant, he (and his older sister) both had allergies to regular (Similac) baby formula and ended up on Soy (Isomil). My son still was crying constantly and at about a month old - my mother and grandmother had had about enough and talked me into giving him just a little bit of very soggy, mushy cereal in his bottle with his formula. He slept all night beginning the first night he had cereal. I fed him this until about 4 months when I started introducing some fruits and vegetables (jars). He has never been overweight and has always - to this day - had the "right" BMI. I'm not saying pork up your toddlers and give them junk, but if your baby is crying all the time, perhaps he isn't getting all he/she needs from formula alone.
Mary you are so very true. I am 48 years old now.When we were kids we were fed solids at a very young age which is very common in india.And in most developing countries of my time. I remember my dad used to tell us eat as much as you can till you are 25 because you can burn it off. We were very active as children always into outdoor games, we never had the wii, PSP,PS2 ,XBox,ninetendo or anything of that sort, no DVDs or videos we were very much into physical activity and we burned up all that we ate.
My dad being a Mechanical Engineer we were financially sound and had good food to eat.We are non vegetarians and ate chicken,( Mutton or pork) & fish along with vegetables at least once a week. I sincerely beleive that if you are physically active till you reach 20 years that fitness will take you a long way in your future years.
I think all this is a bunch of B.S. feed your kids properly help them build a strong stomach , metabolism and immune system. Get them physically active. There are many sportsmen and women all over the world. Are they obese? It all depends on your physical fitness.
I'm 60, raised 5 kids where the youngest is 36. They were fed early and not one of them is obese. It's all about getting exercise and not spending their life sitting in front of a computer or TV.
Anecdotal evidence, meaning individual stories, lead to scientific studies . One instance , like Mary B's does not refute the study, but if there are enough, the study's premise will be called into question and reevaluated.
Don't let all the fat kids parents insult you, Mary B. My daughter didn't have any problems either. She's 3 now and a stick. They don't know what they are talking about.
Sorry hon, as said, anecdotes don't equal evidence.
I agree with Mary, if we go by every new study which comes every couple of months our kids will have no food. I think obesity is more a result of poor food choices and lack of excercise. My daughter and granddaughter were both fed solids at 4 months, to this day they have no obesity problems. Keep them active and feed them healthy is what will contradict obesity.
I'm with you Mary...my 3 boys were all fed early in life and they are now all in their 30's...none of them have a weight issue and never have. A good balanced diet and plenty of exercise works wonders. Next month they'll come out with a "new" study to refute this one....take these "studies" with a grain of salt...someone is making money from them....
Since doctors came up with no solids until after a year is bull. My old doctor introduced foods at 3 months and he said this would develop a resistance to allergies. He said if they break out in a rash, re-introduce the food in a couple of days. My kids didn't have any allergies. My grandchildren were kept off foods until after a year and they are allergic to everything. I don't buy this modern medicine crap at all. None of my kids were fat.
I am so sad when I read things like this. Not because of Mary's choices or anything. I won't condemn any mother. The fact is our society has made it so unnatural to do what is natural. It's the same psyche that causes us not to see what is happening to the planet.
Regardless, if this study proves correct or not- it is a fact that babies digestive systems and other organs needed for food digestion (including the kidneys) are still developing even through the age of 6 or 7 months. Young babies who cannot hold their head up, still have the tongue thrusting reflex, and who cannot let you know when they are satiated shouldn't be fed solid food. Breast milk or formula is all they need until around 6 months of age. If they cry because they are still hungry, nurse them again or give them more formula.
Its also very, very, very false that feeding them solids will allow them to sleep through the night. Yes, if you load them up with food, the first night or so they will sleep soundly, but eventually that will end and they will begin waking up again to eat. Babies sleep through the night when they have gained enough weight (usually around 10lbs or so). My children were exclusively breast fed for at least 6 months but began sleeping 5-6 hrs a night around 2 months and then around 10- 12 hrs a night around 3-4 months, when they gained enough weight that they no longer needed to eat through the night. Feeding your baby to get them to sleep through the night first of all doesn't work and most importantly keeps them from getting the nutrients they need from breast milk or formula (instead of over processed cereal).
Your baby will tell you when she/he is ready for solid foods when they can sit up with little assistance, hold their head up on their own, lose the tongue thrusting reflex and when they start becoming very interested in what you are eating and drinking. Some babies do that early on around 4 months others later. But watch your baby and let that guide you, dont be in such a hurry to move to the next step- they are still developing! And while breast feeding is incredibly good for babies, don't let anyone make you feel bad if you can't or don't want to do it- someone here made a nasty comment about not breastfeeding and I thought it was interesting that it was a man. Breastfeeding is difficult and exhausting, men have no idea! I did it but I wanted to give up every day for the first 3 months...its not for everyone. As long as you love your baby and they know it, that's all that matters!
That is really great it turned out ok for your kids. However, my experience in my own family agrees with the study. Out of all of the younger generation of children in my family -one family decided to introduce solids before the 4 month mark. Like you, my sister-in-law introduced cereral as a way to calm the baby. Now she has an obease 10 year old with Type 2 diabetes (and he is very active and does not sit in front of the TV!). I always think its interesting when parents give solids early to "calm" a baby. My own son had colic and would cry non-stop until he was around 4 months old (the age for which this usually dissappears). Did you ever consider that perhaps your child simply was colic? That's really great your kids didn't suffer ill effects from being fed solids earlier, but for every mom who claims it was ok for their kid is a mom like my sister-in-law who now has to struggle with drugs and a specific diet for her son. Not fun.
George, Really,that was a little harsh. What do you know about feeding infants?
Mary B, I completely agree with you. Went through the same experience with baby formula, all my kids were breast fed. We started giving them solid healthy foods being they were reactive to just about every processed food out there and all milk products. All 4 daughters are now 28, 27, 25 and 24 and all within their right weight and bmi and all are very healthy.
It's all the processed foods with HFCS and all the junk food that people give their kids. My kids rarely ever went to McDonalds or those places, maybe twice a year. And we both worked. No one wants to place the blame where it really is, including the FDA. But then again, they have been infiltrated by Monsanto and no longer are worth listening to or following their guide lines. People need to start looking for healthier more nanural foods for their kids and themselves! Until then, the only change will be more obesiety and diabetes.
"Poor eating may have led to the weight gain by age 3, the doctor theorizes, not the timing of the introduction of solids into the diets of babies." – a theory Doc – ya tellin me you don't know? So why write the article? How many kids ya raised? My 2 girls now aged 36 and 38 were fed from the table since they were 3 months old (rice and fish). Nothin wrong with them. The kids now-a-days are overweight because a a lack of exercise -heaven forbid we make them do pushups, situps, run laps around the track and of course those heavy game remotes really provide a lot of exercise (to the fingers). If the schools don't provide PE (which very few do anymore) that does not mean the parents cant. During the summer, pushing a lawn mower (not riding one) is good exercise. Take them hiking on weekends – know what your kids are doing and do it as a family. Even a walk thru your city zoo is better than letting them sit on their lard butts staring at a TV and playing with the stupid game consoles.
Sounds like my story and I said the same thing to my kids about their babies. I feel it is the food choices they make when they start "school" snacks, lunches and watching TV. We all need to MOVE!
Maybe if parents took away fattening activities and pushed RUNNING AND PLAYING-yes I said it!-we wouldn't have such an obesity rate. But then again, PARENTS would be the ones running the show, not kids :/
My story is very similar to yours.
My daughter wasnt getting the nutrients from my milk and had lost weight.
She was put on a formula but also with baby cereal in the bottle, she was only 3 weeks old. But she thrived once she started to get the proper food. 3 weeks is very young but it worked for her. Because it worked so well for her I did the same when my son was born and with the same results.
Both of my children grew healthy and not a bit of fat on them. So I think people shouldnt generalise.
Do what is necessary to keep your baby healthy.
Mary, the reason that happened is because the little bit of cereal you added, thus thickening the formula, helped control the reflux that was causing your son's problem (a ubiquitous problem among infants). These days, you can even buy formula with the rice already added for thickening.
Adding that little bit of rice isn't the same as parents who start feeding processed fruits, vegetables, and bowls of cereal before 4 months, which is what the article refers to. You correctly started solids about 4 months, and just thickened the formula before then. Nice work!
My daughter ate a small bowl of cereal every day from about a month and a half on. She's perfectly normal and skinny as a rail.
I think I'll make an educated guess that this phenomenon is more reflective of the parents' habits than of the actual introduction of solid foods. Parents who are doing their research, reading all the "What to Expect" books, and generally making sure they are as knowledgable as they can be are aware that four months is a bit early to introduce solids. On the flip side, those that haven't been reading all the books and articles and are just "winging it" may not be aware of that. These, too, are likely to be people who don't make the right choices for themselves. Those in the know will likely feed their children more healthful foods, while those not in the know, won't. This, of course, is all just an educated guess, though.
Great point!
It's funny how in the generation I grew up in, most babies were not breastfed and it was common to introduce solids early, yet childhood obesity was practically unheard of. Leads me to believe either this study is a bunch of bunk or there is some other reason for it then first meets the eye.
Really? Please site the studies that show what your peer group ate while growing up and the average obesity rate. I'm very curious to know if this is fallible human perception or you actual have facts (like a study).
Saw an interesting article (YouTube video "sugar the bitter truth" by Robert Lustig phd) on High Fructose Corn Syrup and it's prevalence in baby formula. HFCS has been linked to obesity and he states that the body is only able to process it in the liver and that it causes a spike in 'bad cholesterol' LDL and VLDL and is more likely to be stored as fat as it is harder for the body to process
This article shows that formula fed babies plus solids is more likely to cause obesity in infants – maybe the link is the HFCS in the formula starting the condition which is then made worse when adding other solids which may also contain it.
HFCS became commonly introduced into processed foods in the late 70's – the same time America became obsessed with limiting fat in the diet and America is more obese now than it was at any other time.
There is a link between HFCS and obesity – that is why there are TV commercials now telling us that HFCS is safe and 'the same as sugar' – it isn't, all different types of sugar are managed differently I. The body even if they have the same number of calories as each other.
More research is needed but in the meantime help your kids by limiting HFCS in their diet.
Chris, Jackie is correct and there are NUMEROUS reputable sites on the internet that show this, please just do a tiny amount of research on a subject before you get defensive.
If nothing else, a few years back a study came out saying that the generation was the first to have a shorter life expectancy than their parents due to significant increase in childhood obesity. It was the talk of the TV health care circuit for months both in the US and Europe, surely you heard of that?
If this theory has truth to it, maybe it has to do with portion sizes. We do think nowadays that larger portion sizes are normal portion sizes. Maybe parents who introduce solid food early are giving too much.
Also, I remember the recommendation in the 90's (not sure what it is now) being to not worry about a child's fat/cholesterol intake prior to age 2, that for growth reasons, you should feed your child as much as they want until they're 2 and then start following a low-fat/cholesterol diet. Maybe these types of recommendations are part of the problem.
There's probably something environmental going on, as well. Although you can't judge anything based off of one child, I have to say the largest baby (clearly overweight) I have seen was born to a healthy normal-weight mom who shops at health food stores and eats healthy, is well educated, and has access to doctors and experts, so you can't just blame the parents' habits.
P.S. This story has an obnoxious headline. "Fat toddlers." Why are we cruelly labeling them when they're only 2 years old?
I know, right? What if they read this and get offended?
I agree, not with you are a moron which quite frankly sounds like one themselves.
Toddlers are too little to read and hence to have their feelings hurt by such a statement. If a toddler is overweight then they would rightly be considered "fat." People who worry about whether a small child should be called "fat" usually have an overweight child child at home...
Well, I don't have an overweight child at home. I do, however, remember children in elementary school repeating the names they heard at home or in the media to other children. It's all about how we as a society want to perceive each other and teach children to perceive each other. Why is it so difficult for so many people to just be nice and supportive, instead of mean?
Overall – this story is interesting but should be noted as "correlation does not mean causation". I.e. a lot of factors lead to parents using early foods (i.e. busy mom who can't breast feed). These factors (or something about these factors) could easily be a true driver.
Adding to your point, given that the current recommendation is to start solid foods at 4-6 months, any parent feeding before this time is likely ignoring doctor's recommendations (although obviously there are some exceptions). Parents who ignore doctors' recommendations in one area are on average more likely to ignore them in others, so it is not surprising that they would have less healthy kids on average.
A similar example - smoking is correlated with higher rates of almost every disease, even ones that likely have nothing to do with smoking. The reason is obvious - people who are willing to damage their health by smoking are on average more likely to take poor care of their health in other areas. By contrast, eating more fruits and veggies is correlated with almost all positive health outcomes, even ones that likely have nothing to do with veggies (for example, lower lung cancer rates), likely because people who care enough about their health to eat lots of fruits and veggies do other healthy things.
This is why health research is so difficult.
I gues we are supposed to starve our babies and start em on the path to anorexia early. We cant feed them formula cause that makes em fat now we cant feed em solid foods cause that can make em fat! Its a bunch of B.S!!!
Angela, perhaps you could breastfeed your child. After all, that is why you have breasts in the first place and is what the article, the WHO and the AAP recommend. Reading comprehension. Try it.
Jochebed, that was uncalled for. Not all mothers can breast feed. Get a clue.
A lot more moms can breastfeed than do. If they don't want to be inconvenienced, they shouldn't have kids.
Me, don't have children if you don't care about their health.
mom: Honestly, I have done both, breast fed and bottle fed. Its a LOT more inconvient to bottle fed, especially in the middle of the night. I mean you have to warm the bottle as the baby is screaming and scoop the proper portion of powder into the bottle...its not that easy when your half asleep. The only time breastfeeding was a slight inconvience was out in public. But I made my own cover up that helped a lot so it wasn't that bad.....
Life: the incovenience of breastfeeding is not that you have to warm/not warm milk or mix/not mix milk. The inconvenience of breastfeeding is that mothers actually have to feed their babies! They can't pass the baby and bottle off to dad, older sibling, daycare, or the worst of all – prop the bottle up with blankets and leave the baby to do it themselves. It is not the most convenient thing to have a infant suckling your breast every two hours, but it is the right thing, and mothers who choose to bottle feed are not giving 100% effort to properly mothering their infant.
My wife and I have a 3 week old. My baby lost over 1 pound in the first week of her life with my wife exclusively breastfeeding. My wife was not producing enough breast milk to satisify my daughter. So we had to use formula to supplement. My wife breasfeeds our daughter and then we supplement some on top of that. My oldest daughter was formula only because my wife produced no breast milk. not sure when we started her on solid foods, and she is 5. She is not obese in any way shape or form. and if you say you remember when you started your kids on solid food and it didn't just happen, i don't believe you.
kanon, I DO have a child. She's 3 and the healthiest kid I know. Maybe YOU shouldn't have kids!
darin, Wake up man. All babies loose weight their first week of life. that's normal! That's not your wife's fault. it's human nature!
Jochbed sounds like a d
Ok, how is waiting until the recommended age to start solids the same as teaching your kids to develop an eating disorder? I'm not seeing the connection.
Really, how hard is it to wait until your baby is 6 months to start solids?? I know there are a few instances where doctors do recommend otherwise, but I don't think that is all that common (or shouldn't be). I just can't understand why parents can't wait.
Jochebed, Kanon, Mom, and anyone else rudely agreeeing with them...
I am currenty pregnant and will be unable to breastfeed due to a health condition. (Never mind that I have already risked my health by changing my mediciation to carry this baby that I dearly want in the first place.) Since I can't breatfeed, by your logic I should what, have an abortion? You see, if as you say I can't properly parent this child by breastfeeding it I shouldn't have it, so then what is my alternative? I mwan by your logic it's not like I can give it up for adoption because the adoptive mother can't nurse it either. In fact, by you're logic, all mothers that don't breastfeed should just get abortions then right? You are acting like hateful, insane women. You made the choice that was right for you, but others make the choice that is right for them. I'm very sure that when this baby is twenty it'll be glad that I went ahead and had it even if he/she was formular fed.
Missouri Mom,
Not in any way putting you down for needing to use formula since I'm sure your baby will be just fine as many children are. Just thought I'd mention that some places have milk banks where mothers who produce large amounts of breast milk donate. If it interests you at all you could always check into that.
Brex, I sincerely thank-you for your concern, but I am well aware of milk banks, but I would NEVER in a MILLION years give someone else's milk to my child in today's day and age when there are SOOOOOO many diseases out there that the milk isn't screened for. (PS: I"m a science teacher and I have researched this. If you research this you can see some instances where children have died and/or contracted life-long diseases from banked milk and you will see that some parents are fighting to have the government ban them. Some people just ship their from the internet and assume it's safe...) My point is, not everyone can nurse, but that doesn't mean they are a bad parent. Formula today is better than starving a child to death...
When my brothers and i were babies we had cereal by 1 month. And i also was on skim milk by 9 months. I wasskin and bones as a child! My son had acid reflux and my dr told me to put cereal in his bottle. Yes he gainned weight
But lost it fast bc he was walking by 9 months
Correlation is not causation. Perhaps mothers who feed solids early also overfeed children anyway. This is not science it is statistics. It is also true that people who drive blue cars are more likely to get cancer, but no believes that the color of the car is the cause.
The early feeding may be causal and it might not be....do more research first guys before publishing fear based pseudo-science.
Exactly! What's to say that the mothers of the heavier kids in the study aren't obese themselves? They left out that little bit of info.
Most mothers who do not breast feed have to go back to work and it is not possible for them to breast feed. Most jobs do not give you time to off to pump your breasts when it is necessary. Look at the numbers. How many "stay at home mothers" do you know? Of course, if the mother is healthy, breast feeding is the best solution but nearly impossible for most of us.
Grandma
Margaret – that is such a sad line of thinking, and goes to show how uneducated the public is about breastfeeding. Yes, I agree that the crappy way mother's are treated in the US (6 weeks mat leave as opposed to 1 year up here in Canada) makes it very difficult if not impossible for a woman to continue EXCLUSIVELY breastfeeding an infant when going back to work. The mistake everyone makes is that it's not all or nothing! There is nothing wrong with a baby receiving 3 bottles of formula during the work day while she's in care, and then being breastfed by her mother evening, overnight, morning and weekends! Breasts are amazing, they will adapt to the new schedule and demand. I think it's so sad when a woman thinks she has to stop breastfeeding to return to work. There are options!
I love it when people who seem to lack the reading comprehension to understand an article try to bash the article. The authors are very clear in pointing out that correlation does not equal causation. They state that they "aren't exactly sure why introducing solids early may be linked to obesity", and suggest that more research will be required to determine the cause.
So what is the point of doing such a study if it can't definitively separate correlation from causation? The problem is that a double-blind study (in this case, where the kids are put onto one of two diets and the diet is strictly controlled, but neither doctor nor family know which diet the kid is on) is the only way to definitively demonstrate causation, but such studies are frequently not possible.
For example, by your logic we do not know whether seat belts save lives, because all studies showing seat belt effectiveness have been correlative (or using manikins); a placebo-controlled double-blind study has never been conducted on humans. Likewise, no one has demonstrated true causation for cigarettes causing cancer. However, in both cases, well designed correlative studies have strongly suggested causation.
Correlative studies, although not definitive, can provide important hints about causation. In this case, now that this correlation has been seen, researchers can follow up by trying to figure out what is different in kids that are fed early vs. later, and thus try to establish the basis for causation.
Delaying solids and breastfeeding longer to curb obesity rates means women need more support to do both successfully. Nursing a newborn is a full time job. My first child nursed every two hours nearly the whole first year – my second could go longer between feeds. It was exhausting. There were people in my ear telling me to give her formula and solids early, rather than supporting me. Here is a great article about all the hate surrounding breastfeeding:
http://yourlife.usatoday.com/fitness-food/diet-nutrition/story/2011/02/Child-obesity-linked-to-formula-early-start-on-solids/43348260/1
Kudos to you!!
I completely agree. I work full-time and still nursed two kids successfully – albeit it took work. It is a commitment you have to want to make. I do not put down those who choose not to breasfeed, but I wish more mom's could give it a chance. The two twenty minute breaks I had to take during the day are a sacrifice I did not mind making, and I'm lucky that both my kids did well nursing. For us, money was a big factor. I could either spend the few thousand dollars per year on infant formula (x 2 per kid) – OR, buy a Medela for $200 and be good. So, we choose the latter. So glad we did.
THANK YOU!!!
Sorry! I posted the wrong link to the nursing debate article!
http://babyminding.com/2010/08/26/breastfeeding-versus-bottle-feeding-why-all-the-hate/
I completely agree with this. My daughter was adopted from China at the age of six months. She had been fed only a combination on soy formula and rice cereal (mixed into the formula). She was (and is) very slim and very healthy. She wasn't starving at all and was thriving when I adopted her. I introduced solid foods other than the rice cereal very slowly over the next year, starting with very light colored foods (mostly vegetables). She was, as a baby, small and slim but very strong and did very well. On an aside, she never developed a taste for sweets (some fruit) but that may be just her. She eats a lot of protein and vegetables, grains, not much fat. She wasn't even on the height and weight charts as a baby and today is in the 80% percentile for height and the 25% for weight at 15 (actually they don't do percentiles any longer I guess) She is 5'6 and weighs about 100 pounds. She is extremely athletic and a top saber fencer. I keep thinking that some of this and her overall good health have to do with they way in which she was fed as a baby and toddler. When she was about 8 months old the nurse in our pediatrician's office casually said "Oh you can give her a little cookie or ice cream now" and I cringed at the thought. She did have formula, but the rest was introduced very slowly.
Breast feed your baby the first year of life and remember the motto "Solid food before one, should only be for fun".
this is a very s t u p i d article ... those who studied this must failed .. just look at the asian countries.. where i grew up.. every kid eat solid food when the know how to open their eyes.. . and look at them .. is there a single one out there got fat? 1 in a million? jeez ..
I think that numerous studies could be made pointing to the "cause" of childhood obesity, but there are many factors. How many kids today are as physically active as compared to 20 or 30 years ago? With the advent of sophisticated video game systems, the internet, "virtual worlds", and so on, kids (and people) are woefully inactive. Both my kids were formula-fed, and I introduced solids around 4 months, but NOT because of any study. It's only by the luck of genetics and keeping them active that they're slim. When is our nation going to wake up and put more value on physical exercise?
I think this also depends on how often the child is fed and what they're fed too. While this is just one example, I know someone who insisted that the only way to calm her upset baby down was by feeding her infant cereal mixed with formula when she was 2 months old. I understand every child is different, and if doing that is something that works to settle a baby down and they don't get sick from it, fine. However she was feeding her daughter this "concoction" with EVERY bottle and barely into the 3rd month she started her on jars of baby food. Fast forward a year, and she couldn't even crawl because she is was obese and her muscles are so weak. Now almost two years later she's doing better, but she still has physical therapy because her bones did not grow properly. Obviously this is a considerably extreme case. I think the article (or perhaps the study?) should have defined things a little more. Also, on a side note, anyone ever notice how foods that are completely natural with no preservatives/fillers/artificial anythings are more strict in saying 4-5 months of age, versus other brands that simply say around 4. Just saying.
Why does every woman who got knocked up believe that she knows more about child nutrition and child development than all of the pediatricians in the world?
They don't mention the percentage of parents of the infants who are overweight. I think that has always been an indicator of how the child is eating and whether exercise is important. Fat parents usually equal fat kids. Just sayin'
You must have parents that are asssholes because you are.
It is the formula that makes babies, puffy, swollen, fat. They almost look as if suffering from peripheral edeoma.
After 5 children, the first two, formula fed, I would have to say, breast fed babies, are far better off.
As well, medical interventions just lead to more interventions. Our last was born in our bedroom. That was an awesome experience.
Mid wifes, breast feeding, are all making a comeback, because we realize, that the natural way is the best way. Corporate oligarchies, just try to make us dependent on their chemical crap.
dang...people are annoying....my wife had twins...we bottle fed our kids...they are 3 now and completely healthy and active little girls....my wife also needed a C-section....if she didn't get one immediately we could have lost one of our girls...NO way that was happening....sure natural is better...but I am absolutely sick and tired of hearing all you wanna be physicians out there giving your opinions...giving your opinion is fine, but to state that you are doing your child and injustice by not having them born naturally or not breast feeding...gimme a break....
i wouldn't change a damn thing about how my kids were born or fed...they are happy and healthy and i would do it all over again.
I am so sick of experts who make breastfeeding sound like a simple choice. It's not a choice for many women due to previous surgeries (i.e. breast reductions, cancer), medications that are contraindicated with breastfeeding, and not to mention women who simply don't produce milk. I haven't read a SINGLE piece of advice from the experts that says: "For women who CAN breastfeed, breastfeeding is recommended, etc, etc." I would have given anything to breastfeed my baby, but was not physically able to. And there are many, many women like me who have no choice but to bottlefeed. So sick of formula being vilified at every turn, and the smug-self-righteousness of those who are able to breastfeed.
We will always have the breast-feeding Nazis with us- it's not enough that mothers feel enough guilt over a thousand other things, without other mothers adding to it.
Breast feeding is only a problem when the medical community makes it one. My wife had a terrible time with guilt, and frustration, until she realized who the obstacle was.
Our 3rd child was early and we tube fed him breast milk from a syringe. Our 4 and 5 were breast fed, because we took a stand. No you are not taking the baby for an exam. She was just born, and she is gonna stay with momma for awhile first. Our last was by midwife in the bedroom. Perfect.
Just be patient, no guilt, it will happen. As for meds, breast reductions, etc., proof as to the negative impact of medical interventions.
I whole-heartedly agree. I wanted nothing more than to have a natural birth and breastfeed my son as soon as he was born. However, he suffered a stroke in utero and I had a crash c-section followed and he had a 2 week NICU stay. He was a week and a half old before I was even able to hold him. He was tube fed breast milk for the first 2 weeks of his life. I tried and tried to breastfeeed him to no avail. We tried some more when we got home...I pumped breast milk for a month. Eventually all the stress caused me to not produce milk any longer. I felt horrible. I am now pregnant with baby #2 and I really hope that I am able to breastfeed this one, but if I can't, I can't beat myself up over it.
that being said, my son was forumla fed from 1 month on. We started cereal and baby food at 4 months, at the recommendation of his pediatricians. At his 6 month check up 2 weeks ago, he was in the 34% for height and 11th for weight. Granted, he isn't the best eater. If I had been able to breastfeed, I would have done that solely for 6 months, as I feel that is the best nutrition.
Yeah it's those pesky "medical interventions" like heart surgery and medication that keeps my heart functioning, but makes me unable to breastfeed. Yeah, such a shame. And my friend who needed a breast reduction because her 48 K's (yes, that's a cup size K, special order) pulled down on her lungs, making it difficult for her to breathe, making it impossible to exercise, and ruining her back for life. Those pesky "interventions" saving lives. tsk tsk. We should all be so perfect as your wife who was obviously blessed with good health. Perhaps I should just eat more broccoli and to hell with my heart medication so that I can avoid feeding my babies "chemical crap."
Just goes to prove that the smug and self-righteous among us will go to any lengths to make themselves feel superior.
Sarah – I agree that there are a lot of mom's taking a strong stance on breastfeeding and it can really make those who are unable to nurse for whatever reason feel self consious about their decision. However, historically there has been such negative reactions toward breastfeeding that the push to re-introduce breastfeeding to society has come with the same negative connetation that you are making. For instance, I am the FIRST(and last) in my entire husbands family to nurse my children. My mother-in-law feels it is "unnatural," I get nasty comments from my father-in-law all the time questioning if my children got enough milk or maybe I shouldnt' eat this or that....then there was my sister-in-law (mother of two) who told me flat out that she finds the practice DISGUSTING. So for every person who has to deal with the guilt of NOT breastfeeding...is someone like me who is dealing with negative reactions FOR breastfeeding. When we discontinue the practice of constantly judging others pareting styles and decisions (especially when we're BOTH trying to do what is best for our kids) – simply because they are different than our own – we'll have come a long way.
I guess I'm unclear why stating that breastfeeding is most healthy represents a "smug-self-righteousness" slap in the face of those that can't breastfeed. My bad knees don't allow me to run, but I don't get offended when I read an article stating that running is good for cardiovascular health; I have never seen an article on running say, "for those who can run, running is healthy."
Any such health article is simply trying to provide guidance for those who do have a choice; no one (except perhaps your own insecurities) is judging those who do not have a choice.
good for you....i just went off on the same thing right above you.....
I don't know about this study, but I can say that American's are way too busy watching this report on tv or sitting at the computer trying to figure out why America is so obese instead of doing something about it. Feed yourself and your kids sensibly. Don't go to the extreme of junk food or super health food. Our kids are growing up with the most bizarre concepts of food, everything from eat what you want and forget the consequences to 6 year olds wondering what the carbohydrate count in a bagel is, which I think is just as dangerous. Make dinner at home, buy the freshest ingrediants you can afford, make treats treats, not an everyday item. And make sure your kids are active. Turn off the TV and video games and do something with them. My kids love red light green light, it's fun! My son is not allowed to run in gym class, they have to walk or skip. Does anyone else see a problem with that. And hey parents, do something active, your kids are watching you sit on Facebook or watch TV all day, who do you think they look up to? If you need help financially affording good food, look up Angel Food, a great organization that offers fresh food at a discount price to anyone. And next time you go to Walmart, don't drive around the parking lot for 15 minutes looking for a close spot, get out and walk, and bypass the junk food aisle and frozen food section when you go in.
Go back to the kitchen and stop thinking, I want a turkey sandwich
And by the way, that "chemical crap" in GASP – plastic bottles! – kept my baby alive.
OK...I was with you on your last post regarding bottle feeding, but I work in the scientific community to know that yes – BPA is not good for ANYONE – especially not for a baby. Think about this – it can predispose breast cells to cancer, enlarge the prostate, decrease testosterone levels, and change the brain structure. A great alternative: glass:) Just saying.
I noticed whenever anyone mentioned that their kids didn't grow up obese even though they were formula fed and were introduced to solids at six months, they get jumped on and asked where are the studies to back them up. Just so you know, it was very common in the 70s to do that. Maybe you should talk to some of your older relatives and find out how they fed their babies before you become sanctimonious. There is nothing wrong with bottle feeding or breast feeding. If you want to breast feed then so be it, but you have no right to condem someone for not. America is great because of our diversity. Our different cultures and religions influence our lives and our children's. People need to be less judgmental when it comes to breast feeding.
Thank you so much liza, I don't know why people get so nasty and judgemental when it comes to feeding babies. There's more than one way to do it successfully, and each baby and mama are different.
The problem isnt necessarily starting infants too early, but what infants and toddlers are fed. We started our kids at 4 mos on cereals and gradualy moved to other foods, choosing to blend or cut up up the healthy foods we were eating instead of using processed baby foods or when they got older "kid friendly" foods. Parents need to look at what they are feeding their kids today, and not just depend on convenience foods.. That will help to prevent childhood obesity.
My 2 daughters were breastfed/formula fed combined, and now at 6 and 8, there are no weight issues what so ever, and they will eat anything.. and are not picky. My son, at 11 mos, is also a healthy , non picky eater who is long and lean despite starting out as a very chunky newborn.
Agreed! Rice cereal and fruits and veggies are wonderful! Starting a kid off on cake and ice cream will make them fat!
Childhood obesity stems from children being fed high fat foods and limited physical activity. Twenty years ago kids played outside with their friends instead of sitting in front of the TV or video games. Parents fed their children health foods and McDonalds was a once a month treat. I'm sorry to say but parents are to blame for their chubby kids!!!!
Sure is disappointing to read some of the comments here.
That is from those defending the chemical crap they feed their children.
Wake up!
I call BS. My daughter was started on rice cereal earlier than that because of always spitting up her formula(Yes FORMULA!). Her pediatrician told us to do it so we did. She's now 3, and skinny as a rail.
I am an MD with kids. All I can say is bah humbug......
That's very helpful.
Just because you have an MD next to your name doesn't really make you any more qualified than the rest of us. That is, unless you are a pediatric physician. You could be a psychiatrist for all we know.
OMG! Enough already!!! Just feed the damn kid! If you go by these stupid articles, worrying about appearance (toddlers are generally fat...they grow into their weight!), you'll starve your kid. Go by the kid's needs, not what some blogger says. GAH.
No kidding! And where in this article does it say what exactly the kids were eating? I see parents pushing their chunky older kids in strollers while they scarf down a whole bag of cheetos Or little kids that are eating giant things of icecream. It's not when they are fed, it's what they are fed.
Exactly! They do much better when they are fed solids earlier. They sleep better and are in better health. I tried to take my babies off formula as soon as i could when i looked at the ingredients.
Dawn – Maybe that worked for you, but children are not one-size-fits all. I dont agree that pushing solids earlier will do any of those things you mentioned. In fact, both my kids were breastfed – and my 2nd slept through the night since day 1 and didn't start solids until 8 months old. I dont care if you did/did not breastfeed – my point is that every child is different and to say – oh they sleep better yada yada yada doesnt necessarily means that will work for another mom who might try and then it be harmful to thier kids. Just saying.
Dawn, I agree. My daughter was off formula before she was a year old. She then went to 2%, not whole, and from a year and a half on, she has drank skim milk.
I'm sure the link isn't as direct as this article suggests. Perhaps parents who introduce solids early also engage in other behaviors that promote obesity. Such as ealy exposure to sweets, fatty foods and not adequately monitoring nutrition with their chidlren
This study is just a study. Ever child is different. My nephew was forced onto solid foods too early and he is thin as a rail. On the other hand my daugher was not on solids until about 3 months and she is heavy-set. I say heavy-set becasue she has Metabolic Syndrome with PCOS and was programmed to be heavy from conception. She was a normal child in every way..just bigger and taller than her peers. I was 4 lbs 11oz at birth and also bigger and larger than my peers. I couldn't breast-feed..I never produced any milk! My daughter produces very little..not enough to sustain her baby. Let's face it..it's ALL in the genes.
Man, there are a lot of pretentious prigs in this discussion. Not EVERYONE can breastfeed and in many cases, that can be extremely upsetting to parents.If anybody out there has any helpful suggestions, instead of hateful remarks,as to what a woman who CAN'T breastfeed do instead and maybe offer some helpful alternatives, that would be so much better.
There are some places where milk banks are available. That's always an alternative if the parents are set on breast milk.
I've done daycare for years. Every kid is different. If you go by this article the child that was fed the earliest (one month) should be a behemoth. She's not. She's trim, athletic, and very healthy. The pattern I see is too much sedentary activities along with fast foods and that doesn't happen till they're toddlers. They can't go to McDonalds by themselves..say no to crap!
My 4 children, born 1957-1964, were fed solid foods as soon as they came home from the hospital, at 5 days of age...per doctor's instructions. They were also breast fed. They were never fat babies, children, teens or adults.
All three of my children were bottle fed, and started giving them cereal at 6 weeks. All three are healthy, slim and bright young adults. The hospitals make a new mother feel like crap when she refuses or can't breastfeed. As a parent and women it is our choice as to breastfeed or bottle. I don't buy all this crap on the studies either. Everything should be in moderation. My daughters and son were healthy babies as well and never sick. A mother knows what is best for her child, no some group who can take data and make it show whatever they want.
I agree completely..and pediatricians are the most guilt givers of all. I don't know how many of my mom's have come in in tears after a doctor visit. That doctor's not there when that kid is screaming because a bottle just isn't doing it. Not every kid reads the textbook.
How about each and everyone of us are different , You will always be able to find a group of people who will have almost the same experience and so on. I have 3 sons, I have always been heavy ,My husband normal weight, My oldest was put on cereal at 1 day old in the hospital,He was drinking 8oz every 2 -3 hours, He was eating meat and veg. at 5 mo. He is thin. My middle son born with a reflux never had solid until 5 months and has been a vegetarian since he was 7 ,He is also heavy, My third son had cereal at 3 mo. and was always thin,until he was allowed sweeten drink and then he blew up to almost 400lb stopped the soda and Ice tea and he is now perfect weight and body mass. has been for 10 yrs now. I also have a reflux, I watch what I eat and I am healthy otherwise. I am just a big beautiful women and that is okay.
I had the same experience as Mary B. with both of my children. In fact, I had a newborn who would not nurse at all, even after 4 lactation specialists. The articles that are posted after these studies are released are misleading in that they never mention that every baby requires an individual approach. Experiencing problems with my first child led to extreme anxiety on my part because I could not follow the guidelines. There is a middle ground and it exists for a significant percentage of babies!
I had that same exact problem!!!
This is nonsense. This is just people refusing to accept responsibility once again. Fat toddlers are due to POOR PARENTING mixed with POOR DIET and little to NO EXERCISE.
Solids too early.... give me a break.
Poor parenting? Not in every case. Probably not even in most. But we have become a society full of people who judge, judge, judge.... Don't learn the individual facts, just judge. A kid has a weight issue, so the parents must be bad parents who feed them a lot of junk food. It couldn't possibly be more complicated an issue... or could it?
Anongirl30, When you see a 4 year old girl that weighs close to 80 lbs, you'll think again. Or that not so little boy polishing off the bag of cheetos and asking for more. Or that kid at the grocery store that says "You owe me some ice cream and some bubble gum!". When do parents draw the line?
We started filling our baby's bottle with Mountian Dew at a very young age. We found that the caffeinne really stimulated our son and made him very active which kept his weight down. Now at almost 2 years old, we give him at least 2 cans of red bull a day. Seems to be working well, as he is very thin and very active.
Troll
CNN – Please do not publicize information to the lay public that is very inconclusive and may be construed incorrectly. You have a responsibility as journalists to consult with leading scientists and physicians before making the decision that this is newsworthy for your home page.
This article is ridiculous, apart from lacking extensive scientific reseach. It is not the age you feed you babies, it's what you feed your babies/children as they grow and how much physical activity they get vs. TV or computer time.
Human infants should fed human milk (except in the rare cases of illness or prior surgery). As a society, what are we thinking..... Feeding processed cows milk to our infants (an then following that up by feeding them processed foods that bear little resemblance to anything natural). as an MD and a parent of young children, I am appalled by what we feed our children (and ourselves). This, in combination with profound physical inactivity, are the legacy of poor health (not just childhood obesity, but all of the nasty things that go along with the western diet and lifestyle) our generation is leaving for our children and the future.
To all the fanatics about breast feeding, chidlren do survive and thrive on formula. Breast feeding DOES NOT make you a better parent. My sons are grown adults who have never been involved in drugs or anything illegal. They are wonderful fathers and husbands of three children each. I may not have breast fed them, but I was very involved in their upbringing which is a whole lot more important whether they received breast milk or not. I'm sick of watching grade-school children being taken to R-rated movies, watching them throw tantrums in public and watching their parents try to be their best friend instead of their parents. That's what you need to worry about not whether they were formula fed. As it is, it's none of your business. Get a life.
The problem is that Mom is also ingesting these same chemicals and passing them to her infant in the breast milk. It's becoming a no-win situation.
You, an MD, are appalled by what we feed our children? I read that breast-fed babies benefit from the supplemental iron in rice cereal. Of course, I'm sure the American Acedemy of Pediatrics' "Caring for your Baby and Young Child: Birth to Age 5" is a lousy resource. If you were my kid's pediatrician I would drop you for somebody who is less judgemental and more up-to-date on current studies.
This story is bogus. I started feeding my sons cereal at 6wks of age. One was breastfed for 2months of his life and the only formula fed. Neither is over weight. I followed the suggestion from my mother who started all her kids on solids (cereal) early. My sister did the same with her kids and they aren't fat. I know a lot of people who have started their kids on cereal and stuff before 4months and I don't know any over weight pre-schoolers.....and thats being honest. Maybe if those parents would let their kids run and play like regular kids then they wouldn't be fat....
Leslie, your reporting lacks attention to detail. Please stop ignoring the elephant in the room.
"The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that new mothers breast-feed their babies for at least six months and introduce solid foods between 4 and 6 months. This new study finds that among formula-fed babies, those who were given solid foods before age 4 months had a higher risk of becoming obese."
Uhm, formula fed babies. Do you want me to discuss the ingredients of formula and the purpose and outcome of each ingredient in the body? Here's a hint, safflower oil is a CLA (conjugated linolic acid) and I have several links to medical journals that reveal these used as supplements in the body is causing diabetes. But you already knew that because of your Clemson U journalism degree taught you to write such awesome bogus headlines.
Stop writing articles about fat-free and calorie restriction. You are making America terrified to eat real food.
In all honesty, the majority of "obese" toddlers I've ever seen have parents that are also obese. Besides that, I think it has more to do with genetics then we're willing to accept.
I think people were made to be obese. If not, then why are there so mnay obese people? Its unatural to be skinny. When I look around, all my freinds and family are heavy like me. I dont see any skinny people. Maybe its the skinny people who need to change.
Actually, the natural state of the human body is to be like that of a long-distance runner's. We evolved to be considerably more active than we are now (hunting mammoth takes a lot of effort), and our genes expect us to go for long periods of time without food... days sometimes. We get fat so easily because our primitive bodies want to squirrel away as many calories as possible in anticipation of a long season without regular sources of food. But since the average human body is rarely under as much strain as nature expects us to be, many of us have gotten far too fat.
"It makes me wonder if this is just a marker for people that introduced solid foods between 2 – 4 months, that their overall diet is poor in general," suggests Greer.
Good observation. I thought the AAP recommended waiting until 6 months. No matter. I wait 6 months as a minimum, as in preventing the baby from reaching the food. Then, they should self-wean by reaching for food on their own. This can happen between 6 months and a year, but usually around 8-9 months old. You'd have to be more careful about preventing anemia for babies who were born prematurely, though.
*should have said "good comment on an observation", not an observation by itself.
Studies are supposed to elucidate patterns, not tell you exactly what your particular situation will be-how can you reject the entire study based on your own personal experience? And true...any one study can't control ALL variables, but it does a better job than just looking at one family. My 62 year old neighbor told me proudly she "smoked like a chimney" with all 6 of her kids AND fed them solids at 3 months and they "turned out just fine." I beg to differ (all were skinny as teens, but porked up in middle-age, 3 are diabetic, and 2 have heart disease), but she's convinced that research is ALL "hooey."
I think there are probably a number of factors involved, including what kind of foods and how much are introduced before age 4 months as well as genetics and other factors.
It never ceases to amaze me how many excuses I read and hear why mothers could not breastfeed their children. The age old ,exhausted excuse " I didn't make enough milk" is not based on any actual facts. Why not educate yourself before you have your child? Learn what is normal human biology and what is not when it comes to feeding. Create yourself a support network of professionals who can and will help with any problems you may have.
Children who are not breastfed are not receiving the exact food that was created for them. No need to add rice cereal, re heat, or premix.
It comes ready to go, how about that? Babies who are not breastfed become fat because their well meaning care takers overfeed. A baby can be forced to finish that last few ounces in a bottle, it is impossible to force a baby to breastfeed. Solids are added early because the baby is not receiving enough nutrition. Formula is lacking every possible thing a baby needs to thrive. It is just ' good enough". All the additives and extras that are in the formula are not formulated in such a way that the infant can completely use them. Breastmilk however, is used exactly as that baby needs. Amazing how nature knows exactly what your baby needs and when they need it.Breastmilk is alive, ever changing for your babies needs, formula is dead, empty and lacking.
I undertstand moms have to work and pumping is hard. I know how hard it is when you have to lug the pump around and find a place to pump. So is parenthood. It is great practice, because nothing about parenthood is easy.
Stop making excuses. Our nation is full of people who never ever had a chance to live up to their greatest potential. Sure your child, you, your great aunt Sally are all 'just fine and you were not breastfed" Just think of how great you could of been if you were.
Several problems with your statement:
"A baby can be forced to finish that last few ounces in a bottle" - not true, you can't force an infant to do anything.
"Formula is lacking every possible thing a baby needs to thrive" - if this were true, formula babies would be diagnosed with "failure to thrive." they are not.
"moms have to work and pumping is hard" - you recognize that bottle-feeding pumped milk is an option, but fail to acknowledge that "well meaning care takers" can still "overfeed" using this pumped milk in a bottle.
If you are going to belittle others' personal choices, please at least use sound arguments.
As a mother who continues to work FT and pump to feed her 8 month old, I have to tell you that your comment about those who "claim" to not produce enough milk is just rude and YOU need to check your scientific facts. I have never been able to keep up with the needs of my child. Despite doing all the things they tell you to try (extra pumping, etc), I have not been able to pick up my milk production. My OB and the pediatrician both explained that some women for some reason are not able to product enough milk. I think breast milk is best for a baby but do understand that everyone is in a different situation...Please watch your comments because you may think you know everything but you don't.
I get rather annoyed at pro-breast feeding folks who demonize formula. Formula was invented to try to save babies who might have otherwise failed to thrive, and it's done a remarkable job. Thousands and thousands of babies who might have died now are alive because of nutritionally complete formulas, which get better every year.
Of course breast feeding is best, we all know that. But if it's not possible, for whatever reason, formula is a good second option. Most kids raised on formula turn out just fine, and breast fed kids are NOT exempt from obesity or health problems. Childhood obesity is due to the eating habits of the parents more than anything else.
Right on sister. Only less than 5 percent of mom's dont make enough milk, its very rare.
poor food choices coupled with overeating (eat everything on your plate) along with being clueless about nutrition (processed foods at the dinner table instead of home cooked meals) are only part of the problem...i was lucky b/c my daughter slept through the night (didn't need cereal in her formula to make her 'full') and never took more than a 6oz bottle...but i had friends with babies and even now, my niece has an 11 month old and i know and understand that there is a reason we should wait... more than one actually and imho, their little bodies and digestive systems aren't ready for that stuff...said all that just to say they may look and seem fine at age 3, 15, or even 25 but it will eventually catch up with them in the form of diabetes, blood pressure issues, food allergies, elevated cholesterol (like me at age 31), etc...if i could do it all over again with the knowledge i now have, i'm sure my 12 year old wouldn't be slightly overweight and she'd be a lot more active...