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Philippines Baby
Feeding Practices "What are the beliefs in feeding the infant/toddlers? What are the parents' attitudes toward it? What are some religious and economic differences? What type of food is initially introduced to the baby?" Thanks Janine, for asking these questions. Back in 1961, a rich and educated Aunt of mine instructed my mom to give me formula in the bottle. I was less than 6 months old and was being breastfed by my mom. In the year 2000, where one third of the income goes to buying formula, my sisters-in-law in the Philippines would reconstitute the bottle of formula given to the baby by adding the liquid part (soup) of the rice (grounded and cooked with lots of water). So the bottle would contain one half formula and one half rice soup. With parents around not teaching or coaxing them to breastfed, some are still following the commercials on TV or the media regarding bottle feeding and the use of formula as the "in" thing in the society. When babies cry during the 60s and 70s, men would coaxed their wives to breastfed their kids. Most of the mothers I interviewed who lived in nearby towns of Manila, during the 60s and 70s breastfed their kids for a year (even when they have more than 7 children). These women want to save money, but for the affluent, it is bottle-feeding that would set them apart as the women who are rich and belonged to the upper class of the society. These rich mothers have the luxury of a nanny who is with the child 24 hours of the day. For the most part, mothers slept with their babies even until they are 8 yrs old. Some of them breastfed until 4 yrs old. The society's response to this is that the child will grow with poor intelligence and a spoiled brat. And some would then put some pepper or garlic on their nipples to
wean the child. When rice is introduced at about six months, most
children are weaned from breastfeeding at around 1 yr. Toddlers are
sharing food with their mothers who fed them with thier own fingers.
Spoons were only later Still in some rural areas, most moms would give mashed fruits like bananas (smaller shape) at around 6 months and would use the young coconut milk juice for the first 2 to 4 months when breastmilk supply is not enough. Most mothers know that eating greens and sea foods increase their milk supply. Sleeping with their children is a norm for most moms, making the supply of milk great. Bottle-feeding is widely used to the orphans which is a life saving way. Some neighbors have breastfed the children of their neighbors or relatives. I remembered a grandma who breastfed one of her grandchild. There are many stories untold and we have to keep telling the stories of our mothers. So breastfeeding varies, but for the most part Filipina mothers would not let their baby or newborn cry and would readily give their breasts to a crying newborn. Those who forgot to breastfed were either not taught by their mothers or are enticed by the upper class and the media who bottle-fed their babies as a sign of the New Society and the "in" thing to do. Most Filipina mothers do not want to be called "old fashioned" or "traditional," but wanted to adapt with the changing of the times. It is then up to the childbirth and health professionals to educate the Filipina mothers of the benefit of breastfeeding.
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