- With Mayo Clinic emeritus consultant
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
read biographyclose windowBiography of
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Dr. Jay Hoecker, an emeritus consultant in the Department of Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine, brings valuable expertise to MayoClinic.com in general and primary care pediatrics. He has a particular interest in infectious diseases of children.
Dr. Hoecker, a Fort Worth, Texas, native, is certified as a pediatrician by the American Board of Pediatrics and is a fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics. He was trained at Washington University's St. Louis Children's Hospital, and in infectious diseases at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston. He has been with Mayo Clinic since 1989.
"The World Wide Web is revolutionizing the availability and distribution of information, including health information about children and families," Dr. Hoecker says. "The evolution of the Web has included greater safety, privacy and accuracy over time, making the quality and access to children's health information immediate, practical and useful. I am happy to be a part of this service to patients from a trusted name in medicine, to use and foster all the good the Web has to offer children and their families."
Infant and toddler health (3)
- Flu shots for kids: Should healthy kids be vaccinated?
- Baby Einstein: Can baby DVDs promote infant development?
- Fruit juice: Is it good or bad for kids?
Newborn health (3)
- Newborn care: Should I wake my baby for feedings?
- Induced lactation: Can I breast-feed my adopted baby?
- Sagging breasts: Inevitable after breast-feeding?
Infant health (9)
- Infant formula: Is tap or bottled water better?
- Infant growth: What's normal?
- Infant swimming: Do indoor pools pose an asthma risk?
- see all in Infant health
Toddler health (6)
- Discolored baby teeth: A cause for concern?
- Temper tantrums: What's normal, what's not?
- Toddler speech development: When should a parent be concerned?
- see all in Toddler health
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Question
Organic baby food: Is it worth the price?
Is organic baby food better than regular baby food?
Answer
from Jay L. Hoecker, M.D.
Organic baby food can limit your baby's exposure to pesticides and other potential contaminants in foods. However, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) says organic foods are no safer or more nutritious than are other foods. Also, organic baby food can be considerably more expensive than traditional baby food.
Organic foods are produced without conventional pesticides, antibiotics or growth hormones. The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) provides organic seals for products that contain various percentages of organic ingredients. But the USDA makes no claims or guarantees that organic foods are safer or more nutritious than nonorganic foods.
So is organic baby food worth the extra expense? It's up to you. Some parents prefer organic baby food because it's environmentally friendly. Others feel that it's healthier or simply tastes better. But what's most important is a balanced diet. Offering your child healthy foods from the beginning — whether they're organic or not — will set the stage for a lifetime of healthy eating.
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