It may seem inconceivable to feed a 1-week-old infant a drink with processed corn syrup in it, but that's just what many doctors recommended in the 1950s. Add a couple of other ingredients, and you've got the recipe for homemade formula parents fed their babies in the 1950s.
Nowadays, pediatricians and obstetricians know that wee ones should not ingest added sugar until approximately 2 years of age. But with formula often being necessary for those who can't or don't want to breastfeed, should you use that old recipe your grandmother passed down?
What exactly is the recipe?The basic recipe includes evaporated milk, water and Karo. Many doctors often sent home formula recipes with the parents, assuming the mother was not going to breastfeed.
Sometimes, the recipe did not specify that the milk should be unsweetened.
What is Karo?
You can still find Karo on grocery store shelves. It is the brand name for a corn-syrup manufacturer trusted by many families in the 1950s. It came in dark and light varieties, and was used as the carbohydrate in the formula recipes.
Is homemade formula bad for infants?
Research into appropriate nutrition for babies has come a long way since the 1950s, which is why these formulas no longer are being handed out by doctors. Even if your baby is not sucking on a lollipop, added sugar can affect dental and digestive health, and isn't suggested for any child under the age of 2. There's also a lack of needed nutrients in a formula consisting of just milk, water and sugar.
What other outdated recommendations did doctors provide?
In the 1950s, some pediatricians suggested a couple teaspoons of tea would help keep your child healthy. Today, it's hard to imagine sitting down with a cup of tea and giving some to a baby who can't even lift their head yet. Also recommended was diluted orange juice at around 3 weeks of age. However, fruit juice before 6 months old could cause bowel movement problems. So always consult your pediatrician before mixing up a batch of homemade formula.
