Non-GMO Formula – The Debate Continues with Paul and a Facebook Friend

Cary, a Facebook friend of TRI 102.5, and I just can't see eye to eye on this topic.

But, I hope he'll keep writing and engaging with us, because hopefully we are all learning.

There are many things that he is right about. The main thing I agree with him on is that my doctor definitely has my child's best interest in mind. I have no doubt about that.

I'm just glad I have the opportunity to listen to all the things my doctor says, and then I can pick and choose, like ala cart, what I want to follow, and what I don't.

Obviously, from our conversations and the material I've been publishing, you can tell that I don't agree with his very last sentence.

Having a calm, loving daddy and mommy who spend all of their time with him is much more important to a tiny kid than the brand of food he eats.

I do think it matters what brand of food I put into my child. Otherwise, I wouldn't be making the change, and I wouldn't be writing about it.

Cary and I are at an impasse, a fundamental disagreement. I do not want to take shots, or continue, as he puts it, 'the war of words'.

I guess the best thing to do is to respectfully disagree, and publish what he wrote.

Also, I'd love to meet Cary, maybe have a phone debate, or have him in to the studio where we could each speak a little of what we think, and see where that goes.

Cary, if you are in, just be in touch. Just know this, I am looking to make a friend that I may have a friendly disagreement with. I'm not looking to convince you, make you wrong, or to 'win' any argument. It just seems like if we keep going on Facebook, we may be going nowhere.

I can tell he doesn't want this turning into anything negative, and I don't either. But the back and forth our connected world offers us is valuable. Putting these topics and ideas out there is beneficial, I think, because more people will be exposed to them. Then they can decide if they should do what their doctor says, or go their own way.

From Cary, on TRI1025's Facebook page

I read your blog comments. While I can agree with you that your kid’s doctor doesn’t know everything, it occurs to me that a pediatrician’s education prepares him/her to know a whole lot more about pediatric medicine, child health, and child nutrition including what is the best formula for your kid, than your bachelor’s degree in telecommunications has prepared you to know about them. That’s not belittling your degree; that’s just fact. Each of us has our niche, and as good as you may be in yours, it’s not in pediatric health or pediatric nutrition.

A pediatrician spends 4-5 years undergraduate for his/her pre-med degree. Then there are 4 years of medical school to obtain an MD. Then pediatric residency takes another 7-10 years beyond medical school depending on subspecialty, plus to be board certified in pediatric medicine requires very rigorous testing. If instead of telecommunications, you had decided to become a pediatrician back in 1995 when you started to college, you’d have only been in practice between 1 and 5 years by now—but you’d have a much better understanding of child nutrition, child health, and caring for children’s health needs than you do. Your “training” has occurred only during the last few months, OJT during your child’s short life, and you can’t begin to know all that your kid’s doc knows.

We could continue this war of words longer, but I’ll summarize by saying that as a new parent, you care a whole lot for your little kid. Instead of questioning everything that your kid’s doc tells you, you should take it to heart. Your kid’s doc has your kid’s best interests in mind, and that guidance is valuable. If you don’t like the advice your kid’s doc gives you, get another opinion from a similarly qualified doctor. But do that quickly, before your misguided efforts on your child’s behalf backfire and make him sick, or sicker. You owe that much to your child.

I hope you'll take this advice from a father of several kids and step-kids and a grampa of several grandkids: What you really owe to your child is you—be with him as much as possible, love him, enjoy him. Each age is special, and that relationship between father and son is something which won’t benefit from all your research and discourse over whether he should drink non-GMO, non-fructose corn-based formula. He’ll thrive if you care, not because you choose this formula over that one. Having a calm, loving daddy and mommy who spend all of their time with him is much more important to a tiny kid than the brand of food he eats.

Thanks, Cary, for the continued comments!