When I was a new mother, many years ago, I knew that breast-feeding was important for nutrition and immune protection. I happily chose to breast feed each child for six months and then wean to formula and a bottle. I wish I knew then what I know now.

Today I would do things differently. I would breastfeed exclusively for six months before introducing solids that the child could pick up with their fingers and put in their own mouth. I would continue to supplement the introduction of this real solid food (no puree) with continued breast-feeding until at least 12 months of age.

An important law of Nature is that Form Follows Function. The strong muscular action of breast-feeding stimulates optimum development of the jaws. Jaws that develop to their genetic potential decrease the risk of SIDS and of developing chronic diseases later in life because our lifeline, our airway is big enough to do its job.

Jaw development is very important at James Street Dentists.