Eight months ago our daughter had her first baby. This is our third grandchild, and it is a privilege for me to be 'the nanny', as I babysit her while Mommy works.
Although, it's been 25 years since I've had to worry about a baby, and some things have changed over the years, particularly in the area of when, how, and what to feed babies. Enter in "The Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies & Toddlers" by Anthony F. Porto, MD MPH & Dina M. Dimaggio, MD.
When I first picked up this book I wasn't sure what to expect, and thought it might be full of medical terminology and information way over my head. What a relief to find out that it is written so we can all understand it, and is way more helpful than I ever expected!
If you have any concerns about nutrition, when and how to start solids, allergies, how to address picky eating, and general feeding, this is the book for you!
Not only do they cover all of the aforementioned topics, the authors also address expected developmental milestones, breastfeeding, teething, and other medical concerns common in babies and toddlers. There is even a section on when it might be necessary to visit a specialist and what to expect at the visit.
To top it off, there are healthy recipes for parents, babies and toddlers that are not only very easy, but very tasty!
Our little bundle of joy happens to have a reaction to anything associated with Dairy Protein. Our daughter is still breastfeeding, so not only does Baby have to be dairy-free, but Mommy has to be dairy-free. While that sounds easy enough, we found out that her sensitivity is so high that we have to be very careful and read labels for all of the "hidden" dairy in foods.
On Pages 224 and 225 of this amazing resource, they've listed tips for 'Avoiding Your Allergen'. They actually have lists of all the ingredients to avoid when your child has a sensitivity or allergy. Who knew that casein and all caseinates in all forms (a popular ingredient in a lot of foods) are dairy? I had no idea. On the list it warned that sometimes margarine contains milk product, and when we checked our margarine we found out that yes, indeed, it contained whey a milk protein. Yikes! So I snapped a photo of the list on my phone and have it available to review to be certain we don't make the mistake of getting something with "hidden" dairy in it.
They provide ingredient-free lists for dairy (milk), wheat, egg, soy, shellfish, tree-nut, peanut, and fish. Very valuable information these days with all of the allergies our little ones have right? I love that they included this!
While I happened to receive this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review, I am thrilled to say that my review is honest and unbiased. I don't know what I'd do without this guide, and I am so grateful to have it to reference when I need the information.
If there is ONE BOOK you get when you want information about feeding your baby and/or toddler, this needs to be that book! I have it on the bookshelf in my living room and use it all the time. I've even used it to help other mommies and grandparents when they've had questions. Of course, I tell them to buy it too, so they don't have to ask me.
Seriously though, this book needs to be in the hands of every parent, and will be one of the blessings I provide to parents when they have their first child. It is that important and valuable.
"The Pediatrician's Guide to Feeding Babies & Toddlers" by Anthony F. Porto, MD MPH & Dina M. Dimaggio, MD is available in sturdy paperback and as an ebook for your convenience. I am overjoyed to give this book an emphatic "two thumbs up"!
Here is the link for it again:
