As a chiropractor, I prefer to live life without added chemicals. Same goes for my parenting style. My husband and I definitely take a different approach to parenting and it’s taken my family some getting used to. Here are some of our preservative-free parenting choices:
- Breastfeeding is Best! We hate the “F” word at our house: formula, that is. Formula companies are as evil as drug companies these days. They prey on expectant moms by sending free formula samples to anyone with a baby registry at a big-box retailer. (**Note: The same evening that I wrote this, I received $40 in formula coupons specifically for 1 year olds since they know when Laramie was born based on my registry. They’re evil.) They try to make formula sound like it’s as good as breastmilk. Here’s a visual for you. Stand on the ground. Now stand on a step stool. You are now closer to the moon, but in reality you are still A LONG WAY AWAY. This is how close formula is to breastmilk. There are situations when formula is the only option, such as adoption, but these exceptions are few and far between. Unfortunately, many medical professionals are not up to date on the latest research surrounding breastfeeding and when a baby should or should not be supplemented with formula. Check with a lactation consultant before supplementing with formula.
- No processed foods. Laramie has not had any processed foods, dairy, or grains. This has been the hardest concept for my parents and grandparents to grasp. Introducing grains and dairy can cause an imbalance in an infant’s gut flora as well as set them up for gluten intolerances later in life. Children don’t NEED rice cereal or Cheerios. Ever. My policy is, if it has to be fortified with vitamins and minerals, it’s not worth eating. As her 1st birthday is fast approaching, the pressure to give her an entire cake to eat has been coming from family members. Thanks to Pinterest, I have found a wonderful alternative. I will be shaping a watermelon into a cake and decorating it with fresh fruit. That will be plenty of sugar for a 1 year old!
- Organic clothes, bedding, toys, and more. We are avoiding the chemicals used to process all the extremely cute clothes and baby products sold today. There are so many chemicals that we come into contact with on a daily basis, so we’re trying to cut down on as many as possible in the home, especially those that come into direct contact with her skin. Items like mattresses, bottles, and plastic toys contain high amounts of toxic chemicals. Alternatives are organic cotton mattresses, glass bottles and sippy cups, and wooden toys with non-toxic and natural based paints.
These are just a few of the main principles we follow on a
daily basis. Here at Smoky Valley Chiropractic, we are big believers in
preservative-free living. Dr. Loder’s Eat Well, Move Well, Think Well classes
and my (Dr. Emily) Natural Parenting classes are loaded with ways to live a
toxic-free life! Come check us out!
- Dr. Emily :-)
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