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By SustainLane/Divine Caroline
Babies demand protection. Their systems are smaller and more delicate than those of adults, and their development hinges on quality care. The developing immune systems, central-nervous systems, and hormonal systems in babies are all at risk of damage from PCBs, heavy metals, and other toxins found in the environment.
Organic baby food has the same advantages that any organic product has: you know the ingredients were not treated with noxious pesticides. Those pesticides won’t be on your food, and weren’t introduced into the environment. Since commercial baby food is often made of condensed fruits or vegetables, it is at risk of containing concentrated amounts of pesticides compared with the original ingredients.
What to Look for When Buying Baby Food
There is, at present, no national definition or set of standards for “organic” baby food. Some brands use state certification, while others set their own guidelines. As with food you’d buy for yourself, read labels carefully. Whatever baby food you choose should be free of added salt, sugars, fillers, starches, and preservatives. You can also look closely at the brand website for a number of specific practices that ensure the foods are safer, healthier, and more nutritious:
* Does the produce come from farms that have been synthetic pesticide—and fertilizer—free for three years? This time lag between conventional and truly organic farming is necessary for residual pesticide and synthetic fertilizers to filter out of the soil.
* Do growers enrich their soil with cover crops, crop rotation, natural fertilizer, and compost? These natural means of maintaining soil health and production capacity are signs of a healthy, sustainable farm.
* Do growers use biological pest controls? Ladybugs, natural pest enemies, and other methods allow growers to forego toxic pesticides.
* Do meat and dairy products come from animals that have not been treated with hormones or antibiotics? Excess hormones and unnecessary antibiotics can interfere with the delicate endocrine and immune systems of babies.
* Is there minimal post-harvest processing? Processing removes nutrients your child’s developing body needs.
* Are synthetic fumigants, preservatives, and irradiation not used in manufacturing? These are all methods designed to extend the shelf-life of food which decrease food’s freshness by the time it reaches consumers.
* Has the produce been tested for nitrite levels? Nitrites are converted to nitrates in kids, which can cause anemia.
Absolutely Pure Isn’t Possible
A fact that upsets many new parents is the near impossibility of completely insulating a baby from toxins. Recent studies even found PCBs in breastmilk. Despite these findings, pediatricians still recommend breastfeeding for the first year because of the great benefits to growing immune systems and the connections between breastfeeding and decreased rates of childhood obesity, diabetes, allergies, asthma, and a plethora of other ills. Breastmilk (and formula, when needed) should be the sole diet until 4 to 6 months old (until then the digestive system can’t fully process other foods), and constitute the bulk of a child’s nutrition until their first birthday.
Starting Your Child on Solids
When babies are ready to start eating solids, start with rice cereal mixed with breastmilk or formula. Then gradually add different foods, a new one every three to five days; spacing their introduction this way makes it easier to identify the cause of an allergic reaction or digestive trouble. Many babies enjoy mashed banana, avocado, tofu, and squash as their first foods. To have the most control over your baby’s diet, try making your own baby food. It’s easier than you may think!