The conversation started out innocently enough. My maid, who saves my ass twice a week, asked me what I did for my youngest's gas when he was a baby. She remembers that we had a terrible time.
I told her this and that and asked what was going on. Turns out, her friend's 2 month old, who was born premature, is really suffering from gas and cramps.
The subject quickly turned to milk. He is not being breastfed, hospital stay nipped that in the butt, instead Momma is giving him regular boxed milk made for 2 year olds!
Say what?!
Well, I guess we've figured out the pain issue! Oh yes, my maid continued by telling me that the Mother said the baby didn't take to formula very well. Well, let's just give him milk fortified especially made for older children. That won't cause problems. And seeing that he is two months old, you've really been trying to get him to like it, haven't you.
And this is not abnormal here. Another friend of mine had to intervene when she found out a neighbor was giving the baby goat milk straight from the goat. I know that has been done before and kids turn out ok, but we know better now. Or we should.
The desire to give small babies real food here is ridiculous. People will give a 2 month old porridge made of cornmeal. They give the caldo do feijao (sauce created from making black beans) to little little babies. It's insanity. I get gas from that. What do you think will happen to a 4 month old? But people say they like it. Of course they like it! It's the most flavor they've experienced in their little lives, aside from that sip of Coca cola you just gave them.
And this isn't just a poverty thing. Ok, maybe the milk is but not the food. I had to smack hands away that were trying to shove cake frosting into my 3 month old's mouth. My feelings, he's 3 month olds people! Boob is the cat's pajamas for him.
So what did I do about all this? I went out and bought appropriate formula, made for sensitive tummies. It's expensive here but I figure maybe a couple of days of a happy baby will make Mommy open up her eyes.
