June 14, 2004

By: Norma Park
Website: http://www.1st-in-babies.com

A Baby Scholarship – Chance For A $25,000 Opportunity

According to findings in the recent Enfamil LIPIL Smart Development Survey, 88 percent of new mothers feel that a college education is crucial to their child's ability to succeed later in life. But, only one-third of mothers surveyed are confident they will be able to afford the cost of tuition when the time comes.

The ever-rising cost of a college education is a source of worry for many new parents. In fact, this concern is well founded. Analysts estimate that by 2021, the average cost of one year at a public university will be more than $20,000.

As another example of its commitment to nourishing the potential of babies, the maker of Enfamil LIPIL infant formula is providing new parents with the opportunity to win a $25,000 college scholarship for their baby.

A total of 20 scholarships will be awarded to babies born between November 1, 2002 and June 30, 2004. One scholarship will be awarded each week between. Parents should visit their pediatrician's office to register, or go to www.enfamil.com for more details.

Enfamil LIPIL is the only infant formula brand that includes LIPIL, a blend of docosahexaenoic acid and arachidonic acid; two nutrients also found in breast milk that are important to infant brain and eye development.

One of the biggest breakthroughs in the last 30 years in infant formula has been the inclusion of DHA and ARA.

More than one hundred studies, including a clinical trial recently published in the Journal of Pediatrics, have shown that DHA and ARA are important nutrients for mental and visual development. More than one million babies have been fed Enfamil LIPIL since the product was first introduced in 2002.

As a pediatrician, I recommend breast milk as the best source of nutrition for infants, but many mothers cannot or choose not to breastfeed, said Loraine Stern, M.D., a practicing pediatrician and clinical professor of pediatrics at UCLA. For those mothers, I recommend infant formulas with the highest levels of DHA and ARA to support optimal brain and eye development.

In addition to the findings regarding college tuition, the Enfamil LIPIL Smart Development Survey also revealed that 97 percent of new moms believe that nutrition plays an important, if not the most important role, in their infant's mental development. Additionally, new moms say their baby's pediatrician is the greatest resource for information regarding their child's mental development.

Proper nutrition is extremely important to mental development, as is stimulation and activity, said Dr. Stern. Every experience excites certain neural circuits in your infant's brain and leaves others inactive.

Those consistently activated will be strengthened and those rarely excited will drop off. Simple activities like talking, reading, playing and singing comfort and stimulate infants and help build a strong foundation for healthy development.

Dr. Stern offers the following tips to stimulate your baby's growth and mental development:

• Talk to your baby often. Your voice is soothing, and your baby is learning from the sounds. Imitate sounds your baby makes, and as she gets older, she will probably imitate you right back.
• Hold a rattle about 12 inches from your baby's face and move it slowly from side to side. Your baby's eyes will follow the path of the rattle for a short time. Over time your child will be able to track for longer and longer periods.
• Play classical music. This may help soothe your baby, and some believe it may help your baby develop a greater capacity for music and math.
• Read to your baby every day and play peek-a-boo.
• Sing to your baby and talk during feeding and while changing diapers.
• Hide an object behind your back and let your baby find it.
• Put some plastic cups in the tub while you are giving her a bath so she can fill and pour.
• Place an unbreakable mirror in a spot where your baby can see herself.

Also see; Baby Sheets & Bedding.

About The Author:

Norma Park is a successful author and regular contributor to http://www.1st-in-babies.com.  Taking care of your babies needs including safety, toys, health and baby products.