Pediatrics: Lillian Beard, M.D.   Diet & Nutrition: Linda Hsieh   Pediatric Nutrition: William Klish, M.D.   OB/GYN: Roy Pitkin, M.D.   very best baby

Linda G. Hsieh is a practicing registered dietitian with over six years experience in clinical practice. Focusing on prenatal and pediatric nutrition, she has worked as a nutrition educator for over nine years. Your Baby Today is proud to feature expert Q&A with Ms. Hsieh. New questions and answers will be added to this page regularly. If you have any questions for Linda Hsieh, please write to her at hsieh@yourbabytoday.com. While Ms. Hsieh cannot respond to each individual inquiry, we will post answers to the most common questions here. Q: My daughter is 12 months old -- is it okay to give her orange juice? A: Because many young babies are sensitive to orange juice and other citrus fruits due to their acidity, it is best to delay the introduction of these foods until they are 7 or 8 months old. However, by 12 months, your daughter is likely ready to try orange juice. Past Questions: My daughter is 12 months old -- is it okay to give her orange juice? My son loves juice, but a friend of mine says it's just empty calories. Should I limit how much my child drinks? I'm four months pregnant and was told my iron levels were a little low. I take prenatal vitamins and eat red meat only occasionally. What other sources should I look to? I'm eight weeks pregnant and hungry all the time! I want to satisfy my appetite but I don't want to gain too much weight. Any suggestions? When is the ideal time to start my baby on solids? Am I better off buying all organically grown produce instead of non-organic varieties? I drink a cup of coffee in the morning and a diet soda in the afternoon. Can too much caffeine decrease my chances of becoming pregnant? And once I become pregnant, do I need to cut out caffeine altogether? Are artificial sweeteners safe to use during pregnancy? I'm overwhelmed by all the information out there regarding what I should eat for a healthy pregnancy. What are the most important nutrients I should make sure to eat every day? We use our grill almost every night during the summer. Is it safe for my 11-month-old to be eating grilled foods, like vegetables, fish, and chicken, so often? Are there certain types of fish I should avoid while pregnant due to contamination? If so, which ones are they? I feed my infant homemade baby foods. My friend said to be careful because some vegetables contain high amounts of nitrates. What are nitrates and which veggies contain them? Is it true that babies who are fed soy-based formulas may be missing out on What should I do about calcium if I'm lactose-intolerant? I'm six months pregnant and it seems everything I eat gives me heartburn! Are there certain foods I should avoid? And what can I take to help relieve the heartburn? Why are partially hydrogenated fats bad for you? Should I limit them from my family's diet? Are organic baby foods better than the regular brands? Should I limit the amount of sugar my infant eats? I'm a vegetarian and would like to give my child soy milk rather than cow's milk. Will I be depriving her of certain vitamins and minerals? What are the pros and cons of alternating between breast milk and formula? How early can this be done? Are there problems with the baby's digestive process? My son is 10 months old and refuses to eat any meat. He likes fruits and vegetables. Is that okay? I've started offering my 10 month old table foods, like shredded chicken, soft carrots, and banana. He'll eat any kind of fruit, but refuses the meat and vegetables. Is he missing out on certain nutrients since he's not eating these foods? Should pregnant women avoid certain types of cheese? My son will be one next week. My pediatrician says I can start him on whole milk. Do I just cut him off cold turkey from formula? At what age do you recommend introducing soft solids and finger foods to a baby? Now that I'm caring for my new baby I hardly have time to prepare a home-cooked meal. I've been eating lots of frozen lunch and dinner entrees instead. Are these okay to eat regularly? Are artificial sweeteners harmful to my baby? Should I boil tap water when mixing powdered baby formula? My 7-month-old only likes a few types of fruit and vegetables. Is she being deprived of certain nutrients by frequently eating the same foods? As a new mom, I feel like I'm tired all the time. Can you recommend some foods that will up my energy levels?

The content on these pages is provided as general information only and should not be substituted for the advice of your physician.

Copyright © 2007 Studio One Networks. All rights reserved.