Ok guys, this was sent to me by a reader, and it was just too interesting not to pass on! It is the Doctor’s written instructions for a new mom in 1957 for feeding her 4 week old newborn baby.
At 4 weeks of age, the Dr.’s instructions say to prepare formula as follows:
13 oz. Pet Evaporated Milk
16 oz. Water
2 level Tablespoons Light Karo Syrup
Cereal at breakfast and dinner
In 2-3 weeks add fruit with cereal (he would be 6-7 weeks old)
In 2-3 weeks add vegetable at lunch (now 8-10 weeks old)
In 2-3 weeks add meat to lunch (now 10-13 weeks old)
“start only 1 new food at a time wait 3-4 days before adding another new food”
This is hard to believe isn’t it?! But really it says a lot about how far we have come!
1. This was at the beginning of a time when breastfeeding was often being touted as “old-fashioned” for “poor mothers” and “inferior or not providing enough nutrition”. It was not uncommon for a mother who wanted to breastfeed to give up trying if she had trouble because there was very little support from the medical community concerning how to be successful in doing it. By the 1970′s over 75% of mothers had voluntarily chosen formula over breastmilk. Thankfully, things have changed!
2. It explains why our grandparent’s are often nervous about those of us who exclusively breastfeed.
3. It sheds some light on the obesity epidemic in our country. Because it seems logical to me that any person beginning life on this type of diet is going to be predisposed to weight gain, diabetes, and a host of other illnesses.
4. This is actually encouraging to me, because I don’t know of a Doctor today who would recommend this for an infant. It means progress, and that now western, mainstream doctors recognize and recommend breastmilk as the best food for babies. And you know how I feel about cereal for little babies!
5. I hope this will serve as further incentive for all of us to question the norm. If your doctor, mother, friend, me, or anyone is advising something that just doesn’t seem right, question it! We live in the age of unlimited information, something previous generations have not had access to. We are able to research and decide what is best for our families in ways that have never been possible before.
Alright, so I know this is random, but I found it fascinating! Hope you all have a wonderful Tuesday! It’s my busiest day of the week!
Oh, and Miles is walking…tear…
and he’s also in the throws of separation anxiety phase…which means I can’t go in the other room without this happening:
i know, sad. but it’s also making me crazy. someone remind me how long this phase lasts…
live well. be well.
