Child of Mine: Feeding With Love and Good Sense

Rating:
Summary: Correction on the Breastfeeding Moms Should Know Review
Review: This is a correction to what the person wrote in the review titled "Breastfeeding Moms Should Know". The reviewer claims that the author was exerting her recommendation of when to stop breastfeeding and thus a 2 star review. The reviewer is misguided on what weaning means. Weaning is the process of changing from one diet to another. In this case, this applies to "changing" from EXCLUSIVE breastfeeding/formula to adding complementary foods while continuing to use breastmilk/formula. If you read closely in the book, she talks about weaning from either formula and breastmilk. She does not mention stopping breastmilk completely. The key word is "wean" not "stop"-they are not the same. The reason why weaning is introduced in the chapters for 6 months to 12 months is because weaning from exclusive breastmilk or formula is typically done when complementary solid foods are introduced. Furthermore to clarify the recommendations given by the previous reviewer, the AAP and WHO both recommend exclusive breastfeeding to 6 months of age. In addition, WHO recommends use of breastmilk for up to 2 years of age while complementary foods are provided.

Rating:
Summary: A HUGE Help in Solving Eating Issues
Review: This is the only child rearing book I keep having to re-order because I've given my copy to so many people. Our family has been clueless in many of those hot button childhood issues (sleep and sibling fighting are at the top of the list). The one place where we feel like we have really succeeded is in the food area -- and it's because we read this book when our twins were babies. Satter's take on food is pretty simple -- the parents' job is to present healthy food to the children and the children's job is to eat it (or not eat it if they so desire). There's nothing very complicated about this and that's probably why it worked for us. The book is good about organizing information around age groups and I found it particularly helpful in addressing how to introduce solids and how to handle behavioral issues at the table. Now I wish we could find an equally helpful book about sleep and sibling squabbling!

Rating:
Summary: A Perfect Guide to Feeding
Review: When my 4-month old went for her well-baby check up, our pediatrician said we could start solids. That was all the direction I got. As I reported this news to grandparents, neighbors and friends, I got all kinds of conflicting advice. I knew the basics-- You put the food on the spoon and when baby opens up get as much in there as possible. But like all first time parents, I wanted to do things "right" (research documented, tried & true, supported by physicians and child development experts).

I am NOT a good eater. I am very picky. I didn't want my daughter to grow up that way. Thankfully, due mostly to this book, she did not. She LOVES vegetables and fruits. She'll turn down a cookie to eat what the rest of the family is eating. I've been complemented by relatives, friends, day care providers and strangers in restaurants about how well she eats. I still pull "Child of Mine" out every so often to review and it never disappoints me.

I would not hesitate to recommend this book to anyone out there looking for some good feeding advice...the tips Ellyn Satter gives serve not just to get you through infant, baby and toddlerhood feeding, but to set patterns that can continue through life. My only regret is that I'd had this book before my daughter was born so the chapters on breast and bottlefeeding would have been more help. (BTW, she is not at all judgmental or preachy.)