The 3 Minute Activist
SuperNanny (February 21, 2021).

Tereza Rodrigues Editor and Administrator Hodder & Stoughton 338 Euston Road London NW1 3BH Hyperion Editorial Department 77 West 66th Street 11th Floor New York, NY 10023 Dear Publisher of SuperNanny, If you are not already aware, there is a very serious problem with the book, SuperNanny. Specifically, much of the "advice" in the book will lead moms and babies to stop breastfeeding too early, create unnecessary nursing problems, and increase health risks. Breastfeeding management is difficult for many women who are new to motherhood and nursing, and often requires the intervention of Lactation Consultants, physicians, and other professionals. This is especially true if the mother is to overcome misguided advice, such as the advice given in this book. Breastfeeding is in the best interest of both the mother and child and should continue exclusively for six months. In addition, breastmilk should remain the main source of infant nutrition for the first year as new and unfamiliar foods are introduced. The World Health Organization (WHO, http://www.who.int/nut/inf.htm) recommends children be breastfed for at least 2 years, the American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP, http://www.aafp.org/x6633.xml) notes that If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned, and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP, http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496) states that increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... and that there is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer. Specifically, see the following excerpts, which are absolutely false, and are not agreed upon by the American Academy of Pediatrics, the World Health Organization, or many other breastfeeding experts. For detailed information, see statements at: http://www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk/breastfeeding/index.php http://www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk/nb_nbaw.asp http://www.babyfriendly.org.uk/home.asp Page 21, of SuperNanny contains the following quote: “if you give a breastfed baby a bottle at 11 PM, she can hold out until 4 AM before she needs another.” Five hours is a long time for a young infant to go without eating, and this excerpt was in the section for babies from birth to six months. During the period of exclusive breastfeeding (at least the first six months), babies need to be fed on demand. On average a breastfed baby may need to nurse every 2-3 hours. The misinformation in this book leads to supply reduction, early weaning, and could harm an infant that has special needs such as a short tongue, tongue-tie, illness, prematurity, or slow weight gain; those special cases should nurse on demand even if it is every hour. If the book is advising a bottle of formula, there is no study that shows this will make a baby sleep longer. In fact formula may make some babies sleep less due to reactions to the foreign ingredients in formula. See more problems with feeding formula to get a baby to sleep longer at http://parenting.ivillage.com/newborn/nformula/0,,6fjb,00.html and http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/solids-sleep.html Page 124, "If you do decide to bottle-feed... Your child will still be getting everything he needs." This statement is too simplistic and blatantly false. Formula has been proven to be inferior to breastmilk. Whatever the intentions are here, to ease guilt or appease mothers who do not wish to nurse, it is irresponsible to make such a statement. This remark needs to be deleted or revised. It is understood that a small percentage of women may not be able to nurse their babies or a very small percentage of infants may have galactosemia and for them formula feeding will be necessary. (http://aappolicy.aappublications.org/cgi/content/full/pediatrics;115/2/496) Additionally, some mothers may choose to feed their infants formula, but they should make the choice taking into consideration the risks of formula feeding and not under the false belief that formula is just as good as breastmilk. Women can choose for themselves, but they should make an informed choice about the true health risks. Even if the book was only talking of bottle feeding breast milk, versus actually nursing at the breast, the bonding that is produced by breastfeeding provides much more of his needs than a bottle. Additionally, there is growing dental evidence that feeding breastmilk from a bottle puts infants at higher risk compared to children who get breastmilk from the breast. For example, breastfed children tend to have wider, longer upper jaws that provide adequate space for the teeth to fit in and grow properly, without crowding or impaction. A correctly developed upper jaw will usually permit and encourage the lower jaw to develop normally as well. No woman should be forced to feed her infant in a particular way; but women should be given complete and accurate information. Please see: http://www.promom.org/101 http://www.askdrsears.com/html/0/T000100.asp#T031002 and http://www.looksmarthealth.com/p/articles/mi_m0838/is_130/ai_n13734198 for a much more complete discussion of dental effects of feeding from the breast. Page 127, "Four to five months is the right sort of time to start your baby on solid food." Again, this is outdated, incorrect information. The AAP and the US Surgeon General among others recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed until "at least" 6 months, which means no other foods, cereals, juice, water, or formula. Babies younger than 6 months lack the enzymes necessary to digest foods other than breast milk. Feeding solids too early increases risks for obesity, diabetes, and food allergies. In fact, most babies are not ready for solids until after 6 months, some need as much as 8 months. http://www.4women.gov/breastfeeding/bluprntbk2.pdf and http://www.kellymom.com/nutrition/solids/delay-solids.html Page 130, "With your baby's nutritional needs increasingly met by solid food... his demands for a milk feeding, breast or bottle, may start to tail off naturally..." Within the context of this paragraph, it is clear that the book is speaking of an infant that is around 6 months of age. Again this perpetuates outdated myths. Also on page 130, "After six to eight months, your baby needs more nutrients than bottle milk can give her. By carrying on feeding around the clock, you may be filling her up so much she doesn't have an appetite for the solid food you're introducing." I can only assume that this is assuming weaning from the breast has already happened, or that is referring to bottle milk as breast milk also. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains that even when babies enjoy discovering new tastes and textures, solid foods should not replace breastfeeding, but merely complement it as the infant’s main source of nutrients throughout the first year. Beyond one year, as the variety and volume of solid foods gradually increase, breast milk remains part of the child’s diet. http://www.cdc.gov/breastfeeding/faq/ Page 130, "More often, a breastfed baby will continue to want a 'feeding' even when your supply is next to nothing... what she wants is the continued comfort of the breast, not the milk itself… She’s using the nipple as pacifier." Comforting at the breast is the healthy, natural thing for babies to do. It is not inferior behavior compared to other babies who use pacifiers, bottles, or blankies. This dangerously encourages mothers to ignore their children's signals that they need to nurse and may need to increase their mother's supply of breastmilk. Ironically, a mother who follows the other advice given throughout the book may have a supply that is "next to nothing" far too early. Note that when a supply is "next to nothing" the best way to increase supply is by nursing often and on demand; this is especially important for a child who is ill. Also, as the frequency of feedings decrease, some of the beneficial components of breastmilk become more concentrated and make those feedings even more valuable. See a discussion with references at http://www.kellymom.com/bf/bfextended/ebf-benefits.html There is much wrong with this book as it discusses infant nutrition, and is marketed to people who want to learn how to best raise their children. I hope in the future you will take the time to examine written texts for incorrect and harmful information before releasing them for publication. Consider a recall of the book until the dangerous information is corrected. Please make the required corrections as soon as possible, and inform me of the actions you take. Sincerely,
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