Educate yourself! Soy formula and rice cereal are terrible for baby humans!

*Just because everyone else is doing it doesn't mean it is right*

**Disclaimer** I am VERY pro breastfeeding, however, I realize there are choices that are made and/or situations that result in giving a baby formula. As much as I am for breastfeeding I am even more for feeding babies, and feeding them the best you can. If that means no breast milk, then at the very least I ask that you look into the formula you choose. There are MUCH better options then soy and/or rice formula/cereal.**

I wish more people would educate themselves about the food they provide for their children. It makes me so sad when I see people making very poor choices, and I know most of the time it isn't because they don't care, it is because they simply do not know better. I was at the store today and saw a young mother purchasing food for her around 6 month old baby. It made me so sad for the baby, and I really wanted to let the mom know what she was planning on feeding her precious child just wasn't the best choice. She had; soy formula (if you must use formula then try to get one with the least soy possible), rice cereal to thicken the formula (if you give cereal then please DO NOT use rice) and jarred baby food. The jarred baby food was the least concerning items. Even though I do not think a less than 6 month old baby should be fed baby food, especially from a jar, at least that is less of the soy and rice crap she will have to eat. In my opinion (and experience) it is so much better and easier to just wait until the baby is ready for food, and then give them regular people food. No need for baby food. Have you tasted that crap? No wonder kids grow up to be picky eaters. I realize this mother wasn't doing anything differently than almost everyone else these days. That still doesn't mean it is the best decision. She probably never received very good breast feeding advice or support, and I'm sure she thinks she is doing what is best. This is where it makes me the most upset though. Why don't people look into things for themselves? If she had done any sort of research on her own there is no way she would have been feeding her child such a terrible diet. It makes me want to just tell people to READ! Find out what the ingredients are, and if your child should consume those particular ingredients. Also, check even a little more into it and find out if they are physically ready to digest such things. Just because the jar/box (that by the way is trying to sell you something) says its okay does not mean it is best! As you know by now I love the quote: When you know better, do better. I think I should add to that...and spend some time learning to do better!

More info on rice cereal: Consumer Reports, the independent consumer watchdog group, has conducted analysis of a number of different rice products, finding that an array of them–including organic rice baby cereal, rice breakfast cereals, brown rice, and white rice–contain “worrisome” levels of the carcinogenic toxin arsenic. Arsenic is not regulated in food, though the government does have a standard of 10 parts per billion (ppb) for arsenic in drinking water. From Consumer Reports: Source

More info on soy formula: Other problems that have been anecdotally associated with children of both sexes who were fed soy-based formula include extreme emotional behavior, asthma, immune system problems, pituitary insufficiency, thyroid disorders and irritable bowel syndrome.
Concerns about the dangers of soy have prompted consumer groups in New Zealand and Canada to call for a ban on the sale of soy infant formula. Milk-based formula contains a better protein profile and does not flood the infant with antinutrients and female hormones. Breast feeding is best IF the mother has consumed a healthy diet, one that is rich in animal proteins and fats, throughout her pregnancy and continues to do so while nursing her infant. Mothers who cannot breast feed, for whatever reason, should prepare homemade formula based on whole milk for their babies. The rare child allergic to whole milk formula should be given a whole foods meat-based formula, not one made of soy protein isolate. Parents who invest time in preparing homemade formula will be well rewarded with the joys of conferring robust good health on their children.
Source