Feed the Baby Hummus {Review}

Not long ago, I received the book Feed the Baby Hummus: Pediatrician-backed Secrets from Cultures Around the World by Lisa Lewis, MD. I was intrigued by the title.

 

The book itself is very well researched, containing global parenting practices for new parents.  It’s divided into four sections: 1. Behavior and Development, 2. Decisions to Make, 3. Diet and Nutrient, and 4. Building Immunity and Body Care.  Each section contains various chapters that help guide your baby through it’s first year.

 

Having been raised on hummus, an Arabic word that means ‘crushed chickpeas,’ I plunged into the book to find out other ways that Middle East and North African (MENA) Arab moms raise their children. However, other than Lebanese food, the Arab culture is not mentioned. (There is also a recipe for ‘Middle East Lentils’ but Middle East also includes countries such as Turkey, Iran, etc, where Arabic is not spoken.)

 

Once I got over this the first time, I went back to re-read the book and found some true gems. For example:

• In Greece, the godparents are required to buy the first pair of shoes for a baby’s christening.
• Mothers in Jamaica use rose water to soothe babies who have a fever.
• In Laos and Thailand, ginger is popularly used as a galactagogue.

The chapters are well written and the appendix contains helpful shopping lists, for both the nursery and the kitchen.

 

If you are a parent in need of parenting advice that incorporates various multicultural practices, this is a book for you. It really does do a good job of teaching about the global parenting village.  Use it as a stepping stone that will potentially lead you to vast diverse resources used around the world. Just keep in mind, it’s only the tip of the iceberg in how parents raise world citizens.

Please stop by A Crafty Arab educational resources to read other book reviews that educate about the Arab world.