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 | Dr. Linda Folden Palmer
Dr. Linda Folden Palmer consults and lectures on natural infant health, optimal child nutrition and attachment parenting. After running a successful chiropractic practice focused on nutrition and women’s health for more than a decade, Linda’s life became transformed eight years ago by the birth of her son. Her research into his particular health challenges led her to write Baby Matters: What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby. Extensively documented, this healthy parenting bookpresents the scientific evidence behind attachment parenting practices, supporting baby's immune system, preventing colic and sparing drug usage. You can visit Linda’s web site at www.babyreference.com. | More about Linda: Linda Folden Palmer is a doctor of chiropractic who grew through her experiences and research to become a consultant, author and educator in pediatric nutrition, breastfeeding and natural parenting practices.
With the birth of Dr. Palmer's son in 1995, she was confronted with his severe health complications and astounded by the extreme lack of accurate or helpful information from doctors or books. Her usual passion for research turned toward infant health and parenting. Her extensive reviews of science and medical research revealed huge conflicts between what is found scientifically and what is standard protocol in pediatric offices. Her research in this area led to her writing the powerfully evidence-based healthy parenting book Baby Matters, What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Caring for Your Baby. | “ My greatest discovery is that the science overwhelmingly supports natural, instinctual parenting over all else,” Dr. Palmer says. In Baby Matters, Dr. Palmer exhaustively lists the scientific evidence behind natural, attachment parenting, breastfeeding, immune support and food allergies. She uncovers the truth behind colic, SIDS, ADHD and cow’s milk and shows the harm incurred by modern pediatric, science-conquering-nature practices. | A message from Dr. Palmer:
It all began with my search to help my own infant with some challenging health complications, when my big stack of baby books and all the doctors just didn’t offer any information that was helpful. My additional motivation was the astounding reaction I received from many corners over my choice to breastfeed my baby and to otherwise instinctually provide him with comfort and attention. I had no idea that this would be such an offensive choice to many and even considered dangerous by some.
I couldn’t imagine that some of these artificial parenting arrangements could be superior to nature’s plan that has carried us through the millennia. Yet, I had to have proof — for myself and for my detractors.
I began by digging into medical, psychological and scientific research journals. It was not long before I realized there was a tremendous bulk of research available, and the direction it pointed was very distinct. I found a lot of amazing information that is just not made available to parents.
I began to recognize that many of the very common problems parents have with babies today -- colic, rashes, diarrhea, constipation, sleeplessness, ADHD, diabetes, obesity, hyperactivity and antisocial behavior, continuing into the adult problems of high blood pressure, depression, eating disorders and the inability to form strong bonds with a mate -- stem from “modern” parenting practices that have been promoted over the last century by industry-educated, predominantly male doctors.
Parents have been instructed that responding to their baby's pleas for affection and attention would only spoil their children. Yet I have found no sound research to support any long-term benefits from such detached parenting. In fact, a mountain of studies suggest quite the opposite — that responsive parenting is best.
Today, our newest neurological studies and hormonal findings serve to re-prove what the attachment psychologists were trying to tell us in ‘60s and ‘70s. When affection is withheld from babies, when they’re regularly left to cry alone and when the bonding act of nursing is absent, we end up with far more children who have learning and behavior problems. What has come to be known as attachment parenting more often engenders children who become more independent, healthier and more psychologically secure.
When the many powerful immune provisions from mother’s milk are withheld, infants suffer twice the number of illnesses with much more prolonged episodes. Moreover, I learned that formula-fed babies suffer twice the infant death rate as exclusively breastfed infants -- that’s right here in the United States! That’s a few more babies per thousand!!
This leads me to a question of motive. I simply cannot believe that any one of these delightful, caring physicians is truly out to harm my child. My journey into the money and politics behind it all was another hugely revealing sojourn that is all described in Baby Matters.
Families need to make decisions that are best for them. I personally believe that given factual information, some parents would be making some different choices. -- Dr. Linda Folden Palmer What others are saying about the book
"Dr. Palmer's book exhaustively lists the scientific evidence behind attachment parenting, breastfeeding and the reality of food allergies… Dr. Palmer shows how the establishment of science-conquering-nature has caused unnecessary suffering and heartache to parents and babies alike." --Vegetarian Baby and Child
"The extensively documented Baby Matters... could serve as an attachment parenting primer, covering breastfeeding, bonding, and cosleeping. Palmer also pays a lot of attention to food allergies and immunity protection. " –Mothering magazine
"… filled with scientific research regarding key issues of infant care. Provides parents information on healthy parenting choices in easy-to-digest language. It is a must-read for new and expecting families and also an important text for educators." -- International Childbirth Education Association
" ... provides a straightforward examination of many key issues new parents might be unfamiliar with… in "reader friendly" down-to-earth terms... Baby Matters is an excellent and highly recommended reader for the new mother!"
--The Midwest Book Review, "The Motherhood Shelf"
"An instant classic. A must-read for all parents. Dr. Palmer's book is the best book on the hard science behind attachment parenting that I've ever read. I plan to make it a baby gift for every pregnant friend. I wish I had read this book before I became a mother. I cannot recommend this book highly enough. It's the most exciting new book on parenting that I've read in a number of years." --Katie Allison Granju, author of Attachment Parenting
"… excellent book. I had to have my highlighter at the ready the entire time I was reading it. The references are fantastic. Thank you so much for your great work. We quote Baby Matters at our conferences and feel it would be helpful for the students, mostly labor and delivery nurses, to have it available." --Carole Peterson, MS, IBCLC of Lactation Education Consultants
"Baby Matters explains in reader-friendly scientific detail why parents should often follow their own hearts and avoid many widely accepted parenting practices." -- InnerSelf Magazine | |
