Guest guest Posted November 9, 2002 Report Share Posted November 9, 2002 I couldn't possibly relate to you more. You have my total sympathy. I have a beautiful, unnaturally cute, sociable, happy go lucky 19 month old daughter, and it's gotten to the point that I can hardly stand to be around my mother because all she does is criticize, imply that my daughter is unhealthy, and worry out loud that I am somehow screwing up my kid, mostly because of our diet, but other things too, like cloth diapering, exposing her to other kids (ie. disease), whatever. But mostly it's the diet. My daughter is small - she's in the 15th percentile. But my mainstream MD doc is not a bit concerned. I am 5'2 " and South Asian, and my husband is 5'8 " Caucasian. So we're not big people. My doc says that as long as she's growing at a steady rate, which she is, there's nothing to be concerned about. She didn't walk until 16 months old, but as I mentioned, nor did I, and I ate all the dairy and meat I wanted. Her legs are slightly bowed still, but my doc said that is common in late walking babies and nothing to be concerned about at this age. In fact, my mother's legs are still bowed, so again, there may very well be a genetic component. But since there's an easy scapegoat, my mother harps on our diet. My daughter is a great eater - she eats legumes, fruits, grains with no problem - veggies are a recent hurdle, but until the last month she's been eating those too. She loves avocado, soygurt, almond butter, all fruits, rice, cereals, tofu, all beans - it's great. I give her a multivitamin fairly regularly too, for the vitamin D and B12 and just in case. She still breastfeeds as well, and has calcium fortified orange juice, both of these are great for calcium. But frankly she could win an award for most healthy baby ever and my mother would still argue that she'd be taller, stronger, more athletic, etc if only she had some cow's milk etc. I fear that my mother will always try to blame whatever problems my daughter might have in any department on our diet, because it's such an easy scapegoat. She's not interested in listening to anything I have to say, won't read any literature I give her on the subject, and just cuts me off, saying snottily that " you have an answer to everything, don't you? " if I try to address her concerns. So I have given up - there are certain people who make it their business to criticize and make you feel bad and are not willing to work together in the best interest of the child. All you can do is make good, current information available, and it's up to them to be willing to listen and learn. I totally understand how it makes a person insecure, and might make you feel like just maybe you're being a bad parent. That's why resources like this list are very important - it allows you to address a concern in a safe environment so you can make sure you're covering your bases where your child's heath is concerned. I have several vegan friends as well, and watching their healthy babies growing well is also a good confidence booster. Social support is a necessity - parenting is such an unnerving guilt-inducing endeavor, and it's such a shame when there are people out there who do nothing but undermine a loving, concientious parent. Gee, can you tell I get worked up about this subject? Leena admartin [admartin] Thursday, November 07, 2002 9:41 AM Re: Vegan Diet & Speech Delay Thanks to all for responding to my message. All comments were very encouraging. I guess the biggest reason for " worrying " about his development is what others will say about it - " it's because he's a vegan " or " it's because I'm his sole careprovider for now. " (My mother just knew my child would never walk because I breastfed him and never gave him formula - he walked at 10 mos.!) - " Julie & Chris Boehning " <jcboehning Wednesday, November 06, 2002 8:20 PM Re: Vegan Diet & Speech Delay > Hi, > Have you had your son evaluated by a licensed speech pathologist? From your > description, it doesn't really sound like your son has much of a problem. My > son is now 3, and he was doing just about the same things a year ago. It > wasn't really until after he passed his second birthday that his speech > really took off. Now he talks like a 40-year-old man. Don't forget that boys > are not as verbal as girls. They usually talk later and their speech usually > takes longer to sound sophisticated. The fact that he does not enunciate all > of his words is perfectly normal for a 2 year old. In fact, many sounds in > the English language are quite difficult to master and take until a child is > over the age of 5 to come in perfectly. A speech pathologist would be able > to tell you which sounds are developmentally appropriate. > From your description, it sounds as if your pediatrician has you panicked, > and he shouldn't. Unfortunately, I don't think most doctors really know the > specifics of this because it is not really their area of expertise. > A good speech pathologist, who specializes in young children, will know how > to evaluate your son's speech to determine if it is developmentally > appropriate. I don't know where you live, but in New York we have early > intervention programs that are given through the county. They evaluate > children and if there is a delay, they work with them so that problems can > be cleared up before they start school. > Hope this helps, > Julie > - > " admartin " <admartin > ; <vrg > Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:55 AM > Vegan Diet & Speech Delay > > > > HELP!!! My 24 month old healthy son who has been vegan from birth has a > > problem in speech development. He is very bright in every area of his > mental > > development - knew is colors, could count objects before he turned 16 > months > > old. He could name just about any object by the time he was 18 months and > > could understand and follow directions. However, he only uses one-word > > " sentences " to communicate inspite of being read to all day long since > birth > > and inspite of appropriate stimulation, including intermingling with other > > children his age. > > Also, he doesn't enunciate his words appropriately for a child his age - > he > > often leaves off the ending of words and the beginning of words. When he > > says " oatmeal, " or " soy milk, " for example, it sounds like he's saying > > Momma. I'm the only one who understands what he's saying most of the > time. > > We try to overarticulate words and ask him to repeat after us but he > doesn't > > but this does not help. No one in our family has problems with speech. > His > > pediatrician has no idea why he is experiencing this obvious delay in > > speech. His speech hasn't improved at all from the time he was 18 months > > old until now. > > > > Has any other mother had similar problems with their vegan-raised toddler > > and/or has heard of any possible links between speech development delays > and > > vegan diet deficiencies? He doesn't take vitamins but drinks Soy Dream > > fortified soy milk. Any leads would be helpful. > > > > > > > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website at > http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go to > http://www.vrg.org/family. > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 Leena, Perhaps a comment that I've heard my mother make might help. " Most kids grow up just fine in spite of their parents " . You can use this to ease your mother's mind about how you're raising your child, but you should probably adjust it a little to " most kids grow up just fine in spite of their parents, just like I did " . She may get the point that you didn't agree with all her parenting decisions and she doesn't have to agree with all yours, or she may not. As far as whoever it was who originated this thread, you take your kid to an audiologist, a speech pathologist and an E.N.T., you make sure that everything is okay or that anything that needs to be done is being done and then you sleep easy at night knowing that there are no " what ifs " potentially facing you. Phil Welsher Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 Leena I couldn't agree more. Whenever I'm feeling worried, concerned, or overly criticized this group is a lifesaver. I feel like I can express my concerns (and what parent doesn't have at least a few!!) without having to defend choices-veg*n, no vac, cloth diapers, co-sleeping, etc) every parent makes. Thanks to all of you. :)Madeline ><leena > > >RE: Vegan Diet & Speech Delay- Warning:RANT >Fri, 8 Nov 2002 21:24:24 -0500 > >I couldn't possibly relate to you more. You have my total sympathy. I have >a >beautiful, unnaturally cute, sociable, happy go lucky 19 month old >daughter, >and it's gotten to the point that I can hardly stand to be around my mother >because all she does is criticize, imply that my daughter is unhealthy, and >worry out loud that I am somehow screwing up my kid, mostly because of our >diet, but other things too, like cloth diapering, exposing her to other >kids >(ie. disease), whatever. But mostly it's the diet. > >My daughter is small - she's in the 15th percentile. But my mainstream MD >doc is not a bit concerned. I am 5'2 " and South Asian, and my husband is >5'8 " Caucasian. So we're not big people. My doc says that as long as she's >growing at a steady rate, which she is, there's nothing to be concerned >about. She didn't walk until 16 months old, but as I mentioned, nor did I, >and I ate all the dairy and meat I wanted. Her legs are slightly bowed >still, but my doc said that is common in late walking babies and nothing to >be concerned about at this age. In fact, my mother's legs are still bowed, >so again, there may very well be a genetic component. But since there's an >easy scapegoat, my mother harps on our diet. > >My daughter is a great eater - she eats legumes, fruits, grains with no >problem - veggies are a recent hurdle, but until the last month she's been >eating those too. She loves avocado, soygurt, almond butter, all fruits, >rice, cereals, tofu, all beans - it's great. I give her a multivitamin >fairly regularly too, for the vitamin D and B12 and just in case. She still >breastfeeds as well, and has calcium fortified orange juice, both of these >are great for calcium. But frankly she could win an award for most healthy >baby ever and my mother would still argue that she'd be taller, stronger, >more athletic, etc if only she had some cow's milk etc. I fear that my >mother will always try to blame whatever problems my daughter might have in >any department on our diet, because it's such an easy scapegoat. She's not >interested in listening to anything I have to say, won't read any >literature >I give her on the subject, and just cuts me off, saying snottily that " you >have an answer to everything, don't you? " if I try to address her concerns. >So I have given up - there are certain people who make it their business to >criticize and make you feel bad and are not willing to work together in the >best interest of the child. All you can do is make good, current >information available, and it's up to them to be willing to listen and >learn. I totally understand how it makes a person insecure, and might make >you feel like just maybe you're being a bad parent. That's why resources >like this list are very important - it allows you to address a concern in a >safe environment so you can make sure you're covering your bases where your >child's heath is concerned. I have several vegan friends as well, and >watching their healthy babies growing well is also a good confidence >booster. Social support is a necessity - parenting is such an unnerving >guilt-inducing endeavor, and it's such a shame when there are people out >there who do nothing but undermine a loving, concientious parent. > >Gee, can you tell I get worked up about this subject? > >Leena > > >admartin [admartin] >Thursday, November 07, 2002 9:41 AM > >Re: Vegan Diet & Speech Delay > > >Thanks to all for responding to my message. All comments were very >encouraging. I guess the biggest reason for " worrying " about his >development is what others will say about it - " it's because he's a vegan " >or " it's because I'm his sole careprovider for now. " (My mother just knew >my child would never walk because I breastfed him and never gave him >formula - he walked at 10 mos.!) > > >- > " Julie & Chris Boehning " <jcboehning > >Wednesday, November 06, 2002 8:20 PM >Re: Vegan Diet & Speech Delay > > > > Hi, > > Have you had your son evaluated by a licensed speech pathologist? From >your > > description, it doesn't really sound like your son has much of a >problem. >My > > son is now 3, and he was doing just about the same things a year ago. It > > wasn't really until after he passed his second birthday that his speech > > really took off. Now he talks like a 40-year-old man. Don't forget that >boys > > are not as verbal as girls. They usually talk later and their speech >usually > > takes longer to sound sophisticated. The fact that he does not enunciate >all > > of his words is perfectly normal for a 2 year old. In fact, many sounds >in > > the English language are quite difficult to master and take until a >child >is > > over the age of 5 to come in perfectly. A speech pathologist would be >able > > to tell you which sounds are developmentally appropriate. > > From your description, it sounds as if your pediatrician has you >panicked, > > and he shouldn't. Unfortunately, I don't think most doctors really know >the > > specifics of this because it is not really their area of expertise. > > A good speech pathologist, who specializes in young children, will know >how > > to evaluate your son's speech to determine if it is developmentally > > appropriate. I don't know where you live, but in New York we have early > > intervention programs that are given through the county. They evaluate > > children and if there is a delay, they work with them so that problems >can > > be cleared up before they start school. > > Hope this helps, > > Julie > > - > > " admartin " <admartin > > ; <vrg > > Wednesday, November 06, 2002 10:55 AM > > Vegan Diet & Speech Delay > > > > > > > HELP!!! My 24 month old healthy son who has been vegan from birth has >a > > > problem in speech development. He is very bright in every area of his > > mental > > > development - knew is colors, could count objects before he turned 16 > > months > > > old. He could name just about any object by the time he was 18 months >and > > > could understand and follow directions. However, he only uses >one-word > > > " sentences " to communicate inspite of being read to all day long since > > birth > > > and inspite of appropriate stimulation, including intermingling with >other > > > children his age. > > > Also, he doesn't enunciate his words appropriately for a child his age >- > > he > > > often leaves off the ending of words and the beginning of words. When >he > > > says " oatmeal, " or " soy milk, " for example, it sounds like he's saying > > > Momma. I'm the only one who understands what he's saying most of the > > time. > > > We try to overarticulate words and ask him to repeat after us but he > > doesn't > > > but this does not help. No one in our family has problems with >speech. > > His > > > pediatrician has no idea why he is experiencing this obvious delay in > > > speech. His speech hasn't improved at all from the time he was 18 >months > > > old until now. > > > > > > Has any other mother had similar problems with their vegan-raised >toddler > > > and/or has heard of any possible links between speech development >delays > > and > > > vegan diet deficiencies? He doesn't take vitamins but drinks Soy >Dream > > > fortified soy milk. Any leads would be helpful. > > > > > > > > > > > > For more information about vegetarianism, please visit the VRG website >at > > http://www.vrg.org and for materials especially useful for families go >to > > http://www.vrg.org/family. > > > > > > Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 Does anyone have any suggestions for tasty protein supplements for my seven year old son? I've tried some powders from Whole Food and mixed into a milk shake but he hates the taste (and doesn't even know that I've put it in the shake! He just thinks I make lousy milk shakes). He's always been very small -- he's not quite up to 40 lbs and he's in second grade. He's in good health -- but just SO SKINNY. He's a very picky vegetarian. He likes very few fruits -- apples and grapes (occasionally bananas -- but it's an effort) -- very few veggies (peas, corn, potatoes) --- vegetarian baked beans (an effort again). He loves bread, peanut butter, orange juice, cereal, and pasta. Just starting to like small amounts of yogurt. Does not like cheese, cottage cheese, or eggs. I have a 19 year old and 18 year old daughters who were also raised vegetarian... but they ate a good variety of foods and were much bigger than their brother. He takes multivitamins every day... but because he eats such a small variety of foods and such small portions, I'd like to give him some kind of supplement. He's very active. Thanks for any suggestions. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 12, 2002 Report Share Posted November 12, 2002 function SetDomain(d) { document.domain = d; }I totally understand where you are coming from. My son is 5 months old and my husband and I are raising him vegetarian style. Both set of Grandparents have so much problems with that. And the vegetarian couple that was in the news months ago, are making it harder for me. If you are not familiar with the story, a vegetarian couple starved their baby. They girl was weighing 10 pounds at 1 year old!! We are feeding our son properly and health. We just don't beleive in eating dead.Anyway, evertime my son cries or is feeling fussy(which is normal), they say " maybe it't they food " . I can very easily get worked up about this subject too. It is a touchy thing. It really make me scared to let them babysit. I already almost killed my husbands cousin, because she gave him Gerber cereal. We use Earth's Best(organic). I guess i can't trust anyone until he can talk and understand things. ONE LOVE U2 on LAUNCH - Exclusive medley & videos from Greatest Hits CD Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest guest Posted November 13, 2002 Report Share Posted November 13, 2002 > Does anyone have any suggestions for tasty protein supplements for my seven > year old son? My suggestion is flax seed powder. You can mix it into his shakes or mix it into soy yoghurt. It can be used in pancake or waffle batter, just a teaspoon to the batter. Also nut butters. Try hemp seed, lots of Omega fatty acids. They just came out with pumpkin seed butter. Avocados are great to add weight. When you make shakes, you might want to rotate your milks, rice, almond, hazelnut. Add lots of nuts will help as well. Good luck. Peace, Laura Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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