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It’s a common milestone we all assume happens when your child turns 1: Happy first birthday, have some milk with your cake. Non-human milk replaces human milk, and the weaning journey continues apace.

After all, the prevailing wisdom is to let cow’s milk replace breast milk (or formula) after your child reaches his first birthday. While it is true cow’s milk should not be introduced into a baby’s diet before the age of 1, the question is, does it really need to be introduced at all—ever?

Cow’s milk is safely used as a substitute for human milk (and a replacement to formula) because it is…

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As parents of a 14-month-old, my wife and I know that eating at a restaurant with a baby can be quite an adventure. Usually, our fine dining experience ends with us apologizing profusely to the waitstaff, leaving a generous tip, and walking away with a “blast zone” of food surrounding our baby’s highchair.

Of course eating out with a baby is a challenge when it comes to etiquette; but it’s also a challenge when it comes to choosing foods. Let’s face it: It can be hard to find healthy choices at many restaurants, even for adults, much less babies.

Still, many experts…

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It is such a simple solution—the fact that it works may surprise many—a five-minute conversation between a health care provider and a parent during their baby’s 9-month checkup increases the likelihood of bottle-weaning. Why is this important? Because prolonged bottle-feeding (beyond 15 to 18 months) has been shown to increase a child’s risk for iron deficiency—a condition that is common in children whose diet is primarily milk rather than a wide variety of healthy foods. And bedtime bottle use also increases the risk of tooth decay—another reason for why the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends complete bottle weaning around 12…

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It is a century old debate—one that began in 1899. A couple of professors and two representatives from butter associations appeared before Congress to complain about a bill that would prohibit them from coloring their butter with anything other than vegetable dye. They claimed that the organic compound aniline dye they were currently using was not harmful to health.

Fast forward to 2010. The debate continues, but it is now centered around the effect of food colorings on child behavior—specifically, whether artificial food colorings make children hyperactive.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) says no, at least not for most children. But…

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According to the U.S. Census Bureau’s Survey of Income and Program Participation, there are more than 11 million U.S. children under the age of 5 who are in some sort of child care arrangement. The majority of those not being cared for by a relative are in settings where, unfortunately, germs do run rampant. According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the risk of spreading infectious diseases exists in child care settings, especially among infants and toddlers who are most likely to share germs through putting toys in their mouths. In fact, most children in child care and school settings…

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Have you graduated to zipperless pants with an elastic waist? You’re not alone. A growing number of U.S. adults are overweight or obese, according to the most recent Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Data were taken from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance Survey (BRFSS), an annual, random-digit-dialed telephone survey of U.S. adults. Participants were asked to report their weight and height—researchers then calculated body mass index (BMI). Obesity is defined as BMI greater than 30. Individuals reporting weight greater than 500 pounds and height greater than 7 feet or less…

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On July 26, 2010, moms and babies got the attention they deserve thanks to Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard of California. Roybal-Allard, along with 25 co-sponsors, filed the Maximizing Optimal Maternity Services for the 21st Century bill (HR 5807) also known as “MOMS for the 21st Century.” A sweeping piece of legislation, MOMS for the 21^st Century aims to promote optimal pregnancy outcomes by making evidence-based maternity care a national priority. Key provisions include:

• Establishing a focal area on optimal maternity care in the Department of Health and Human Services’ Office on Women’s Health;

• Establishing a federal interagency coordinating committee on the promotion of optimal…

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The lack of adequate, restful sleep can affect your child’s mood, behavior, health, memory, and growth. If there is anything standing in the way of a good night’s sleep it’s important to address the issue and solve the problem. Following is a list of typical sleep disrupters and possible solutions.

Nightmares
Children spend more time dreaming than adults do, so they have more dreams—both good and bad. After a nightmare saying “It was just a dream” doesn’t explain what they experienced—after all, most kids believe that the tooth fairy and Big Bird are real, too. After a nightmare, offer comfort just as you…

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Never underestimate the power of Dora the Explorer, Scooby Doo, and Shrek. The results of a recent study, published in the July 2010 issue of Pediatrics, found that cartoon characters affect kids’ food preferences.

Researchers at Yale University asked 40 children (all 4 to 6 years old) to taste three pairs of identical foods in either a clear package or one with a picture of a cartoon character. The children were then asked whether the two foods tasted the same or one tasted better than the other, and which of the two foods they would most like as a snack.

For each…

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Disguised as a means for insuring that finicky toddlers would get essential vitamins and nutrients, Enfagrow was pulled from the market on June 9, 2010 in a surprise announcement by its maker, Mead Johnson. Originally launched in July 2009 sporting a vanilla flavor, it was the release of a chocolate flavored version in February 2010 that proved to be not only unhealthy but unwise. With 19 grams of sugar in each 6-ounce serving, critics of Enfagrow chocolate weren’t hard to find. And with childhood obesity having reached epidemic proportions, many argued that the last thing most children needed was a…

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New parents have countless concerns: Is my baby too hot or too cold? Is she sick or just fussy? Do I need to wake her at night to breastfeed? While concerns may vary from parent to parent, one concern is universal—how will I know my baby is getting enough (or too much) to eat? Learning to recognize your baby’s feeding cues and to respond in an appropriate way is an important part of parenting. All babies (at some point) will transition to eating solid foods and drinking from a cup, and when that occurs, the same feeding cues will…

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If you are able to enjoy fresh, local produce at a farmer’s market this summer, consider yourself lucky.

According to The Henry J. Kaiser Family Foundation’s State Health Facts, 23 states have less than 2 markets per 100,000 people. And only 1 out of 5 middle and high schools offer fruits and vegetables as “competitive foods,” or foods sold outside of school meal programs, like in vending machines, school stores, or snack bars. That fact is based on data from 27 states, which means the number of schools that offer such choices is actually less than 1 in 5.

The State Health…

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