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Feeding Your Vegan Infant With Confidence
Whether you are vegan and planning a pregnancy or a health professional needing further information on nutritional guidelines for a vegan infant, this text is an essential guide.
Paperback
First published October 12, 2005
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Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews
June 1, 2016
First, to be fair, some of what is wrong with this book is the state of the art when it was published in 2005 (peanut allergy precautions) and that should not be held against it. However, it has a much more dated feel than that.
I should first state that my dissatisfaction with the book is not at all about its subject, being favourably disposed to vegan diets for the sake of animals and the planet, with human health a little way behind but still in the mix. And that includes new babies... indeed, although it is argued by some that our evolution points to an omnivorous diet (our evolution probably points to a variety of other things we do not wish to preserve), human babies are unarguably 'evolved' to be vegan for the first half year of their lives. I would also agree that vegan parents still need tailored and authoritative information, and a vegan dietician (not a spuriously qualified 'nutritionist') should be very well placed to deliver this. Furthermore, Sandra Hood provides references at the end of each chapter for readers to follow up for themselves.
So... what's wrong? Back to something that is right that shows what may have gone wrong. An article in The Vegan magazine, prior to the publication of this book led me to a conversation with Sandra Hood. I felt very clear that she was well-intentioned and open to learning... and as a result of that conversation, the World Health Organisation guidelines on infant feeding are included in this book. But, get this, prior to my communication, she was unaware of them and she was misinformed about 'natural' weaning ages (a nursing strike is not a child weaning... unless the mother wishes to take the opportunity to make it so) The book generally, when it comes to the 'how' has the feel of something based heavily on very conventional, prescriptive literature and I was shocked that there is no mention of 'baby-led weaning' approaches. Indeed her suggestion that it is quite normal for babies to cry and spit food out initially is distressing and suggests that she is basing her book on literature based on premature introduction of solids.
She really does not know enough about pre-solid feeding. Fortunately she does include contact details for three of the four specialist breastfeeding counselling charities (unsure why she misses one out) but those are at the back, whereas she gives her own unrealistic picture of the feeding patterns of young babies in the text. I can forgive that she has not taken on board the more accurate paradigm of taking the physiological norm and comparing other feeding methods against that ie formula feeding or not breastfeeding has risks rather than the hackneyed and unhelpful 'breast is best'... but she is at pains to say that soya formula is safe. No infant formula is 'safe' except compared with unmodified substances. She's not taken an overview - her well-meaning comment that millions of babies are bottle fed and grow up healthy contrasts with her later reference to the growing incidence of obesity, diabetes, allergies. Currently that's all moot anyway as there's no vegan formula of any sort currently available in the UK (a change since the book was published).
She does provide useful information on dietary requirements beyond this stage and the particular needs, known, and speculative (making it clear which is which) of vegan children.
The case studies at the back are compromised. Most relate to children who are still quite young (only one reflects a whole childhood into adulthood) and several make the mistake of 'mixing causes' so bringing in immunisation and education (not in relation to managing diet specifically) when she has said earlier in the book she's not discussing it as too big a topic. I would have liked more about the various ways in which parents have approached it (eg what to do if a child wants to eat non-vegan food) as this element in the case studies was strong but just too brief.
I should first state that my dissatisfaction with the book is not at all about its subject, being favourably disposed to vegan diets for the sake of animals and the planet, with human health a little way behind but still in the mix. And that includes new babies... indeed, although it is argued by some that our evolution points to an omnivorous diet (our evolution probably points to a variety of other things we do not wish to preserve), human babies are unarguably 'evolved' to be vegan for the first half year of their lives. I would also agree that vegan parents still need tailored and authoritative information, and a vegan dietician (not a spuriously qualified 'nutritionist') should be very well placed to deliver this. Furthermore, Sandra Hood provides references at the end of each chapter for readers to follow up for themselves.
So... what's wrong? Back to something that is right that shows what may have gone wrong. An article in The Vegan magazine, prior to the publication of this book led me to a conversation with Sandra Hood. I felt very clear that she was well-intentioned and open to learning... and as a result of that conversation, the World Health Organisation guidelines on infant feeding are included in this book. But, get this, prior to my communication, she was unaware of them and she was misinformed about 'natural' weaning ages (a nursing strike is not a child weaning... unless the mother wishes to take the opportunity to make it so) The book generally, when it comes to the 'how' has the feel of something based heavily on very conventional, prescriptive literature and I was shocked that there is no mention of 'baby-led weaning' approaches. Indeed her suggestion that it is quite normal for babies to cry and spit food out initially is distressing and suggests that she is basing her book on literature based on premature introduction of solids.
She really does not know enough about pre-solid feeding. Fortunately she does include contact details for three of the four specialist breastfeeding counselling charities (unsure why she misses one out) but those are at the back, whereas she gives her own unrealistic picture of the feeding patterns of young babies in the text. I can forgive that she has not taken on board the more accurate paradigm of taking the physiological norm and comparing other feeding methods against that ie formula feeding or not breastfeeding has risks rather than the hackneyed and unhelpful 'breast is best'... but she is at pains to say that soya formula is safe. No infant formula is 'safe' except compared with unmodified substances. She's not taken an overview - her well-meaning comment that millions of babies are bottle fed and grow up healthy contrasts with her later reference to the growing incidence of obesity, diabetes, allergies. Currently that's all moot anyway as there's no vegan formula of any sort currently available in the UK (a change since the book was published).
She does provide useful information on dietary requirements beyond this stage and the particular needs, known, and speculative (making it clear which is which) of vegan children.
The case studies at the back are compromised. Most relate to children who are still quite young (only one reflects a whole childhood into adulthood) and several make the mistake of 'mixing causes' so bringing in immunisation and education (not in relation to managing diet specifically) when she has said earlier in the book she's not discussing it as too big a topic. I would have liked more about the various ways in which parents have approached it (eg what to do if a child wants to eat non-vegan food) as this element in the case studies was strong but just too brief.
February 10, 2009
Fairly reassuring, with useful info on nutrient amounts needed by the very young. Emphasises the importance of ensuring enough B12, and keeping an eye on the amount of fibre in a young child's diet (too much can fill a toddler up too quickly).
Very traditional weaning approach, even listing foods suitable before 6 months, which is not currently recommended in the UK. But the factual content is just as useful for those following a baby-led approach.
Very traditional weaning approach, even listing foods suitable before 6 months, which is not currently recommended in the UK. But the factual content is just as useful for those following a baby-led approach.
Want to Read
September 4, 2012Should I ever get pregnant...
Displaying 1 - 3 of 3 reviews