TIP - When should I start plain cow's milk for my baby?

The short answer - The American Academy of Pediatrics clearly recommends NOT using cow's milk till the child is at least 1 year old. We can switch over to cow's milk between 1-2 years age slowly in most children.

The slightly longer version - Cow's milk is for the calves! While this may sound simple enough it hides quite a few important facts that would help us make the choice between cow's milk and formula.

In India, there is often an obsession for starting "fresh cow's milk" as a healthy & superior alternative to formula milk. However it must be remembered that cow's milk was created by mother nature for the calves. Thus it has far higher content of protein (since calves grow much faster than a human baby), higher phosphorus and lower sugar (lactose) than human milk.

In fact the formula milk is man's way of artificially trying to replicate mother's milk from the cow's milk. Thus we reduce the things that are in excess in cow's milk, add the things that are deficient in cow's milk, and try to make this as close as physically possible to mother's milk.

While this formula milk is still inferior to mother's milk, it is generally speaking a far better choice than cow's milk.

Of course since this is an expensive option, full fat cow's milk (& NOT toned/ slim milk) may be a reasonable alternative for these babies, where affordability may be an issue.

TIP - How do I choose "Dr Right" pediatrician for my precious baby?

If you already have a baby, the choice may be obvious for you and quite simple.

However for the first time parents, or when moving to a new location, this may be a cause of significant anxiety.

Here are some tips to help you begin your search for the "right" Pediatrician.

1. Start searching for a pediatrician preferably a couple of months before the delivery. Some babies have no respect for the 'due date' and you do not want to be caught off guard in this situation. Talk to your friends, relatives, ob/gyn & your family doctor.

2. It is very important that your pediatrician should be located close to you, at an easily accessible location, since you are likely to visit him quite often (usually more often than you think!) especially for the first born. Remember that even in the best case scenario, you would have close to 10 visits in the first year itself, so having a convenient location would make your life easier :)

3. Have a face to face meeting with your pediatrician if possible. Many pediatricians may charge for this, so ask in advance. Your level of comfort is important since they are going to be handling your most precious possession ! Try to find out their attitude regarding vaccinations, breast feeding, antibiotic use etc. if possible. You should know the working hours, emergency contact location, and appointment schedules of the clinic, since these vary considerably in practice. Which hospital does your pediatrician admit children too? Do they attend to the emergencies themselves? Try finding about the experience and qualifications of the Pediatrician too, either by asking politely, or by looking around in the clinic. Finally since in India, almost all consultations are self-paid, you would want to be comfortable with consultation charges.

4. Even though the pediatrician is the most important person in making your decision, you would want to see if the reception staff is polite, helpful and if the waiting area is child-friendly.

Remember that choosing a pediatrician is possibly the start of a relationship that could last 18 years or more! Give yourself enough time and data to make an informed choice.

More reading here

1. http://www.babiestoday.com/articles/basic-care/picking-your-pediatrician-50/3/

2. http://pediatrics.about.com/od/choosingapediatrician/Choosing_a_Pediatrician.htm

3. http://www.parents.com/baby/care/pediatricians-medicine/checklist-choose-the-right-pediatrician/

4. http://kidshealth.org/parent/system/doctor/find_ped.html

The Internet Parent (TIP) - Guide to common childcare & parenting questions

Today I am starting a new project that should (hopefully) consist of the common questions that I am asked in my Pediatric Practice.

I will try to post a question every day, and would love to have feedback / queries from parents (& would be parents) too !

While many such resources are available online, only a few are from pediatricians, and almost none from an Indian Pediatrician.

I hope to fill this gap, and try to not only educate parents, but myself in the process, and have fun.
While I would like to provide standard advise as far as possible, we all know that no two children are alike, and no single formula (one size fits all approach) exists for parenting.

As a parent and as a pediatrician, my brief would be to provide accurate information, clear common myths, and where ever possible share my experience, so that we are able to bring up healthy and happy children.

Remember, health is not defined as just the absence of disease, but a state of complete social, mental and physical well -being (by WHO).

I would love to be a part of making your children healthy !