Weight Loss and Parenting

The world (particularly here in North America) is hyper-obsessed with image and weight. Too many people who are overweight believe that the key to finding self-worth is through weight loss, as though being thinner will somehow make them a better person.

By this time most people will agree that one’s health is more important than their weight. We’re starting to hear experts call for “nutrition” more than “diet”, for “life style improvements” more than “weight loss”. Someone may be at their “ideal weight” and have more health problems than someone classified as “overweight”. Excess weight certainly leads to increased risk of heart disease, diabetes and many other complications; however, many people (who fail) start their dieting with the aim of “looking better” rather than being healthier.

I will always hold that you need to take care of yourself first if you are going to have any hope of being there 100% for your child. Lifestyle changes and improvements to eating habits don’t happen overnight “because they must” – they are learned through determination and trial. Don’t wait for your infant to start eating solid foods before cooking healthy – it won’t last and your child will learn to eat the same junky food that you do.

There are so many reasons to seek to become a fit parent.  Here is my own list, perhaps others will find some similarities with their own ideals:

• I want to have more energy so I can play with my child longer
• I want to have enough strength that carrying my child won’t tire me out so fast
• I want to lead by example and show my child how to make proper eating choices
• I want to help prevent disease so I might be healthy enough to enjoy my grandchildren one day

Where to Find Product Recalls

We hear about new recalls every day – products of all kinds are found to be unsafe or flawed in some way are called back for repairs by their manufacturers.  Anyone who has ever bought a new car has certainly encountered this – the dealer phones you one morning to bring your vehicle in to fix a flaw that was discovered in [insert part here!].

Not all recalls are life-threatening, nor do they affect all items that were produced by the manufacturer.  Our car was called in once because the seal around the windshield on our model was found to wear too quickly.  Although we never had any problems with it, we were still able to have it replaced free of charge.

When the product recall is for family safety equipment, it is important to pay attention.  But how can a busy parent keep track of everything that may put their family in danger?  Fortunately there are many government-backed online sources that can help.

There are a few that we like:

CSA International – CSA tests products for conformance to and above national and international standards, and issues certification to qualified products.  When it comes to any safety equipment – bicycle helmets, electrical outlets, car seats – I will only buy products with the CSA label.  CSA also includes a useful RSS feed to keep abreast of new recalls.

Health Canada – The Canadian government is (generally) fanatical about safety, particularly for products relating to children and infants.  Canada has some of the strictest standards in the world when it comes to products for children and newborns.

Traveling With Baby

At one time, visiting our parents was as simple as making sure the lights and oven were off and hopping in the car for a three hour drive. Now that we have a baby, that same trip can take up to six hours between getting all of the baby’s gear loaded (he has more stuff than we do!) and stopping to feed him when he cries. Traveling is a big deal when there is so much to be responsible for; it’s a wonder we are able to make it anywhere on time.

Our latest trick is to wait until the baby goes down for the night then load him into the car seat and take off. This technique means we can drive straight through without stopping for bottles and the baby wakes up at grandma’s house so there is a smaller period of adjustment. It can be very tiring to arrive at our destination so late, but the benefits seem to outweigh the drawbacks.

I was concerned about the advisability of letting the baby sleep in his car seat for such long periods of time. Doctors warn against letting babies sleep in car seats citing increased risk of SIDS but the problem factors seem to be unrelated to the child sleeping in the car:

• The airway can become blocked if the head is flexed forward
• When the head is flexed forward, the jaw contacts the chest, obstructing the breathing pattern
• This can happen when the restraint is not used and the child has poor control of their head – normally they are younger than 6 months of age
• The particular cases being warned about involved children being placed in car seats to sleep rather than during use as safety devices in vehicles

Car seats here in Canada are designed for babies to sleep in comfortably even when being transferred from the indoors to a car and back. Being able to load the baby without waking him up is convenient for parents and healthier for the baby. When used properly car seats reduce injury by 90 to 95 percent.

Back to traveling – is it safe to keep the baby in the car seat for those long trips? The answer is yes, provided breaks are taken when the baby is awake so he can be released from the car seat and allowed to stretch. An 8-hour non-stop trip in a seated position places a lot of stress on the baby’s developing spine so it is important to move him from time to time.

Would you want your baby’s name?

Ashlee Simpson and Pete Wentz just had their baby, Bronx Mowgli Wentz.  Perhaps the name has some significance in their lives – but if it was chosen just to be different or unique, that is truly unfortunate.  Choosing a name for your child is one of the most profound things you will do to affect their psyche and self-identification. Names are important – they can instantly communicate to others the unspoken history of your family, your lineage, even your culture. Your name is more than a word that is associated with you – it is your identity.

Traditional or Modern?  Classic or Trendy?
Some names are old-fashioned, some carry so much negative connotation they become utterly unspeakable. Some names are classic, other are unique. A person could be named after a cherished relative, or their name may have been pulled out of thin air by their parents.

Fight the urge to go with “trendy” or “artsy” names.  Literature or spirituality may be important elements in your life, but your child might feel differently growing up in modern times with a name like Summer, Rainbow, Ophelia or Desdemona.  The best rule of thumb is always to treat others the way you would want to be treated yourself – ask yourself if you would honestly want to be addressed with the name you are considering for your child.

Does the name affect day-to-day life?
Take the time to think about how your child will bear their name.  What are the possible combinations and nick names the child may encounter.  A child with a name like Dylan for example is going to run across many references to pickles, dill pickles, etc.  That isn’t a big deal, but some names are truly unfortunate.

What happens when your surname name is Dover and you choose Benjamin for your son’s name (Ben Dover)? Richard Cox (Dick Cox)?  A name may be a name, but people have to live with them, and kids are very cruel.

Concentrated vs Powered Formula

Of all the things that could stir up such heated debate, I would never have guessed infant formula to be among them. Some people are very passionate about what they feed their baby, and very passionate about what others feed their babies too.  For some people spreading the word about breastfeeding is a holy crusade while others are strictly bottle feeders.  We tried both ways but could not continue breast feeding due to health reasons – but our baby fared well in each case.

For those like us who decide to use the bottle, the next question is “What formula do I choose?” In North America, we have such strict legislation regarding the production of infant food we can rest assured all of the formulas are basically equal.

Which is Better – Concentrated Formula or Powdered Formula?
So does it make a difference whether parents choose to use concentrated or powdered formula?  For that matter, are ready-made bottles superior?  The truth is the choice between concentrated, ready-made and powdered formula is mainly convenience and expense – all three are appropriate for infants.

Ready-Made Are Convenient
Ready-Made bottles are just that – measured doses of formula waiting for you to attach a nipple and feed to your child.  Most drug stores carry these in packs of 8 and they aren’t cheap.  For day-to-day use I generally would not recommend these, but if your last bottle breaks while you are on the road there is nothing quite as life-saving as being able to find ready-made bottles.

Concentrate Travel Well
Cans of concentrated formula are more expensive than powder but travel much better.  If the lid comes off a can of powdered formula while in the car, your back seat will never be clean again.  A single can can make 4-6 bottles – in our case right now that will last an entire day.  Many parents groups are able to obtain concentrate cans for free or at low-cost, which can make this option convenient and inexpensive for young parents.

Powder is Economical
Powdered infant formula is sold in large quantities and is (relatively) cheap to buy.  We buy the “economy” size which is huge.  I’ve noticed that when the powdered formula is mixed the milk is white, which appeals to my sensibilities.  The ready-made and concentrates tend to be brown or off-white – this is not unhealthy but I find it less aesthetic.

Choose Based on Lifestyle and Budget
The food you give to your baby in these early months is so critical because it provides much-needed nourishment for their rapidly growing body and brain.  The good news is the food supply is generally protected, and the choice of formula becomes a matter of three questions:

1. Budget: What can I afford?
2. Lifestyle: Where am I most likely to be feeding the baby?
3. Baby’s Reaction: What does the baby like? (All babies are different and some fare better on lower iron formulas, some on soy)