ChowBaby

happy belated thanksgiving, y'all! we're back in the office and out of our tryptophan haze. as i settled in with my double latte this morning (i was up way too late for a woman with a toddler!) and caught up on headlines, i came across a sad story about how diluted formula nearly killed a baby in florida.

the gist of the story is that a mom was thinning her baby's formula to make it last longer because she can't afford enough. additionally, she was feeding the baby water in between feedings to help keep him sated. apparently, what this is common. in fact, i found this definition of water intoxication (ie, water poisoning) from the 2002 McGraw-Hill Concise Dictionary of Modern Medicine which specifically states, "it is common in infants living in poverty, whose parents 'stretch' powdered formula by adding water."

the mom in this florida case had no idea how much harm her money-saving ways could cause her baby. and without that knowledge, i can imagine any parent who can't afford enough food for their child feeling scared and pressured to think of ways to make their baby's sustenance last. i commend her for going public with this story. it must have been hard to do. but it highlights important, but less frequently talked about infant feeding information that, sadly, may be more relevant to more people as we weather hard economic times.

with that, here's a quick rundown of some facts on introducing water to your baby:

• common wisdom is that babies younger than 1-year-old, especially breast fed babies (breast milk is 80-90% water), do not need water
• but it is often said that you can begin introducing small amounts of water, especially to formula fed babies, at 6-months-old (consult with your pediatrician to determine when and how much water to give your baby)
• never give water to an infant younger than 6-months-old (unless otherwise instructed by your pediatrician)
• any age- and health-appropriate water intake should not serve as a substitute for breast milk and/or formula, which should always be made according to the manufacturer's instructions
• in fact, it's often suggested that sips be offered after meal time so that water doesn't interfere with baby's appetite for breast milk and/or formula
• too much water, which includes any water given to children younger than 6-months-old (unless otherwise indicated by your pediatrician), can cause serious health problems (immature kidneys expel sodium along with excess water, so giving infants too much water causes a sodium imbalance that can disrupt brain activity and cause, among other things, seizures)

if you are looking for ways to give this holiday season (and beyond!) you might consider donating formula to a local food bank (Feeding America--formerly America's Second Harvest--offers this food bank locator) or your local WIC (Women, Infant, Children) agency (WIC is state-run so the best way for you to locate a nearby agency is to google "WIC + [your state]"). formula is exceedingly expensive but vitally important to any infant whose mother is not exclusively breast feeding. any help struggling moms can get is help that can ensure the health and safety of their babies.

i know... heavy post following a holiday weekend, but i brought it around to giving and the holiday spirit, right?! now let's carry that on beyond december because we're all in this together...

-S