©iStockphoto.com/kate_sept2004

If you are among those who think hunger is a condition that exists only in poor countries—remote parts of the world with limited resources—think again. Although the United States is one of the world’s wealthiest nations, one in four U.S. children goes to bed hungry one or more nights each year—a condition defined as food insecurity. Nearly 20 percent of children in seven U.S. states and the District of Columbia live in households without adequate food supplies. And with summer just around the corner and school lunch programs coming to an end, the situation is about to get worse.

Administered by the…

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I awoke suddenly to his small face peering into mine.

“I dreamed I was having milk,” Tommy said, his voice shaking a little. “And I’m so glad because I love having milk!”

“Having milk” was what my 3-year-old son called nursing, an activity we had ended three weeks ago. And he was still talking about it.

“Um, are you thirsty?” I asked. “Would you like some water?”

He said he would, so I stumbled out of bed while he climbed into it. It was still very early and we snuggled together for a while after he drank his water. He didn’t mention breastfeeding again…

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Natural. Pure. Wholesome. Good. Those are the words that come to mind when I see the “USDA organic” seal. At a time when we are all more mindful of the dangers of pesticides and chemicals in the foods we eat, it’s reassuring to see the small green-and-white emblem that means you don’t need to worry–this product is natural and good for you.

However, a recent ban of synthetic fats commonly found in some organic products raises serious questions about such thinking. A statement on the ban was recently issued by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), and will impact infant formula…

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Breastfeeding should be an equal opportunity experience for all women, but for many, breastfeeding is a missed opportunity. While many factors contribute to a woman’s decision to breastfeed—support at home and from health care providers, a woman’s work environment, the media and its perception of normal infant feeding, and misinformation about the effects of formula feeding—the decision to breastfeed isn’t always black and white. Or is it?

Research
A recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), found that non-Hispanic black women in the U.S. were least likely to breastfeed compared to other racial groups.

Results
Using data from the National…

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©iStockphoto.com/THEPALMER

Let’s Move! is the rallying cry of the new nationwide campaign to address childhood obesity. Launched in February 2010 and spearheaded by first lady Michelle Obama, this campaign aims to “eliminate the problem of childhood obesity in a single generation.” It’s an ambitious goal, considering that over just the last few decades, childhood obesity rates have more than tripled, increasing from 5 percent in 1980 to 17 percent in 2008. Currently, almost one in three children is overweight or obese.

Although its name emphasizes activity, Mrs. Obama notes that the campaign relies on a multi-faceted approach where attention to food may even exceed that…

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In her directorial debut, Christy Turlington Burns—fashion model, mother of two, and maternal health advocate—explores women’s reproductive health in No Woman No Cry. Screened this week to rave reviews at the Tribeca Film Festival, No Woman No Cry captures the plight of pregnant women in four parts of the world—a Maasai tribe in Tanzania, a slum in Bangladesh, a post-abortion care ward in Guatemala, and a prenatal clinic in the United States—as they strive to give birth to healthy babies.

In Bangladesh, only 1 in 10 births occur in a clean environment and with the aid of a skilled healthcare provider. The…

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Choose toys wisely: Avoid phthalates found in soft plastics (like teethers and rubber ducks). ©iStockphoto.com/cujo19

Mom’s job is to protect baby. Feed him, clothe him, keep him warm and dry. Buy the safest toys and the healthiest foods. I thought I was doing plenty by choosing organic food and BPA-free bottles. As it turns out, that wasn’t enough. By digging deeper into the countless products that surround all of us, including our children—common household products, even—it is evident the list of harmful chemicals is exponential. Thankfully, this month, one U.S. senator introduced legislation to reform our nation’s outdated policies on the control…

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The business license application was nearly complete. The only thing missing was the company name. The clerk was growing impatient, so I quickly chose Daddy, Mommy and Me , mainly because it described my target audience—moms, dads, babies. Amy’s Baby Company was chosen in desperation after I was forced to abandon Daddy, Mommy and Me. Legally I knew it was mine. Financially I couldn’t afford to defend it. Lesson learned—register any future name. At the time, I thought Amy’s Babies was an obvious choice; until I was asked on more than one occasion if we sold babies. However, I think…

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Tip: Choose toys with parts larger than one-and-three-quarters inches in size, about the diameter of a toilet paper roll. ©iStockphoto.com/jaroon

Two-and-a-half-year-old Sam wants to do everything his older siblings do. He wants to play with the toys they play with. He wants to eat the foods they eat. He wants to handle the coins they do. As a parent, I know that is not always the best (or safest) decision. After all, choking caused by food, coins or toys is a common form of injury and death among children. It is the fourth most common cause of accidental death in children…

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Both you and your baby are going to sleep terribly, possibly for months, so you might as well get used to the idea.

But don’t freak out—this is totally normal. All you have to do is make sure everyone lives through this tumultuous time. Pretend there’s a zombie war going on outside and your priority is basic survival. Do whatever it takes to stay alive. Believe that this too shall pass.

For those of you in the midst of intense sleep deprivation, you would probably like to take your computer and throw it at my head right now. No one wants to…

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Although the incidence of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) decreased significantly after the launch of the Back to Sleep campaign in 1994, SIDS is still the leading cause of death in children 1 month to 1 year of age. While the cause of SIDS remains a mystery, researchers recently identified a defect in the brain of infants who died of SIDS that may eventually lead to early detection of babies at risk for SIDS.

Published in the February 3, 2010 issue of the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA), researchers compared the brainstems of 41 infants who died of SIDS with 7 infants who died…

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Perhaps Andrew Wakefield, MD didn’t realize that his 1998 study erroneously linking vaccinations to autism would ignite a decade long controversy. But he should have. If not for the media frenzy fomented by high profile celebrities, the scientific method might have triumphed long ago. Journalists should know better. Yet given the scope of the damage, any claim of vindication would ring hollow. In the end, science prevailed, but at what cost?

After the United Kingdom General Medical Council (GMC) described the actions of Andrew Wakefield, MD, and two of his colleagues as dishonest and irresponsible, The Lancet, a respected medical journal,…

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