GRAND Magazine - Spring 2020 - 34

grand families

Feeding babies: What grandparents need to know
BY IRV KATZ AND JAIA LENT

randkids are a joy and the thrill is never
greater than the first couple of years
when they are learning everything for the
first time, especially how incredibly wonderful
grandparents are! Yet, whether Grandma and
Grandpa live near or far, we cannot forget the
influence we have over the young people who
have brought these munchkins into the world
and the influence we can still have on them.
But as for parenting practices, especially with
tiny infants, it seems like everything has changed,
right? Who knew about having babies sleep on
their backs or avoiding bumper pads when today's
grandparents were young parents themselves?
Feeding babies remains the same in some ways,
i.e., breast feeding is ideal if circumstances allow
it, but there are circumstances where that is not
an option. In those cases, it is important to understand safety considerations and the best ways to
use formula.
Consider the estimated 2.6 million grandparents raising grandchildren because the children's parents cannot. Imagine thinking that feeding babies was in the rearview mirror
and suddenly you find yourself worrying about the expense and complexity of getting
your grandchild the right formula. As you can see from the numbers, that is not an entirely
uncommon occurrence.

...there are some unsafe practices out there relative to the
use of formula, from buying breast milk or formula...
34 GRAND

SPRING 2020

The Infant Nutrition Council of America
(INCA) tells us that there are some unsafe practices out there relative to the use of formula,
from buying breast milk or formula "on the
street" (rather than from a reputable supplier)
to homemade infant formula. A recent INCA
study found that health professionals and government are primary sources of information
on infant feeding for parents and caregivers,
but the study also found that caregivers want
government to provide "easy-to-understand,
science-based information and resources that
go beyond breastfeeding." (Here are links to
the study and implications for grandparents
raising grandchildren: 2019 Infant Feeding
Survey Report; 2019 Infant Feeding
Survey Infographic)
So, what can grandparents do? Here are a
few suggestions.

Click here to continue reading
Jaia Lent is Deputy Executive Director
of Generations United, a national
organization dedicated to improving
lives. Home to the National Center
on Grandfamilies, Generations
United is a leading voice for issues
affecting families headed by
grandparents or other relatives.

Irv Katz is
Senior Fellow
at Generations
United (and a
grandfather)

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GRAND Magazine - Spring 2020

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of GRAND Magazine - Spring 2020