Organic food comes with a higher price tag.  Is it worth it? Is going organic really much better for your baby?

Organic baby food can definitely limit your baby’s exposure to pesticides and chemicals used in conventional farming and food processing methods. But the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) stance is that they are not more nutritious nor are they safer than regular baby food. Still, more people are opting to go organic to play it safe. Today’s contaminant may be tomorrow’s danger.

Studies have yet to come out conclusive, but hormones, pesticides and other chemicals are now being closely examined for their effects on our health.

Organic poultry, eggs, meat and dairy products come from animals that are free from growth hormones or antibiotics. Organic plant, vegetable and fruit products were grown without the use of common pesticides and synthetic fertilizers. When a food product is labeled USDA Organic, that means a government-certified inspection was done to make sure that the farm it came from abides by set standards for organic produce. The company that processes and packages the food must be government certified as well.

People also go organic for philosophical reasons. Organic production adheres to farming and production processes that have minimal effect on the environment.

But parents of young children may want to look into the organic food option more for its impact on health.

In a recent interview by Babble, noted pediatrician and author Dr. Harvey Karp explains: “Fifty percent of chemical exposure you get in your lifetime you will get in the first five years of life…. we want to learn if chemicals affect other things too besides autism, like obesity, asthma and leukemia rates. Fortunately, we now have The National Children’s Study, and in three to four years we may see something more specific….”

Even if results of studies are not yet out, some parents would rather avoid questionable contaminants all together. Dr. Karp calls it the precautionary principle. And one principle he espouses is buying organic – especially since the verdict on pesticides’ safety when used along other contaminants is still in question.

He says: “It’s kind of like what we learned about cigarette smoking and asbestos. They both cause cancer individually, but if you’re exposed to both together, your rate of cancer then increases by five times.”

Not all doctors agree that we must take the more expensive organic option. The Mayo Clinic’s Dr. Jay Hoecker says, “what’s more important is offering your child healthy foods – whether they are organic or not.”

My take? If it fits into your budget, go organic for your child’s early formative years. Pay the extra price for those organic vegetables, eggs and free range chickens – even just for the first 5 years.  If you can commit to it longer, go ahead. It could mean just a little extra price for ensuring your child is disease-free. It may even come up cheaper in the long run, if you avoid future medical expenses, not to mention the heartache of having a sick child.

But even if they end up eating something that isn’t from the organic aisle once in a while, no need to sweat it. For the first 5 years, a little extra precaution in limiting your child’s exposure to questionable chemicals and additives may already come a long way.

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