What the heck is going on in California? As of January 1, a whole slew of new laws went into effect that moms should be checking out. You can no longer try to ban male circumcision in your community, health insurance must cover autism related treatments, schools can suspend students for cyber bullying, booster seats are required until age 8 or 4' 9", and stores can no longer sell expired baby formula or baby food.

Ummm, what? This wasn't already a "thing" before this law? You could actually sell expired formula and baby food? For babies to eat? Legally?

You know moms everywhere are breathing a sigh of relief as the report comes out of Missouri that Enfamil Premium Newborn formula is not to blame for a 10-day-old's death. After last week when Wal-Mart pulled the infant formula from its shelves after baby Avery Cornett died from the rare bacterial infection, Cronobacter sakazakii. Initially the fear was that the baby did contract the infection through his formula. Understandable, since the food source would be the first place you would look if a newborn became ill with a bacterial infection.

Additionally, of course, Enfamil must be thanking the maker that its testing showed these results. Otherwise, that would be the end of a formula company. In fact, if I had a baby and I was formula feeding, I would probably consider passing over the Enfamil even with these results. which is unbelievably unfair.

It's a sad, sad day when any of us here at The Stir have to write about a baby's death. Ten-day-old Avery Cornett of Missouri died from a rare bacterial contamination in his itty bitty gut, and the fear that it came from the formula he was fed is like a knife in the gut -- not only for moms using that formula, or any formula, but for anyone. He's actually the second baby to die from the same bacteria in Missouri this month.

While Enfamil/Mead Johnson didn't issue a recall, Wal-Mart pulled the specific batch from shelves while they investigate it; however, I think this really points to a much larger problem: Are moms being taught all they need to be taught about how to properly prepare the formula they feed their kids?

The problem is that formula cans, pediatricians, and most books don't teach us moms how to safely formula-feed babies -- nor do they adequately warn you about the things that can happen if you don't.

Not the story you want to hear about ever -- much less right in time for the holidays. But if you're feeding your baby formula, you might want to stop for a moment and take a look at what's happening in Lebanon, Missouri, where a 10-day-old baby has died. Avery Cornett was hospitalized after appearing lethargic and seemingly having stomach pains. Tests showed the baby had contracted a rare bacterial infection, Cronobacter sakazakii. Tragically, baby Avery died from the infection and now local health officials are trying to discover the source of the bacteria.

Naturally, this is where the formula comes in, as that is what baby Avery was eating at the time of his death.

Sometimes after time creates distance between a disaster and your awareness of said disaster, it's easy to forget all about the people who are still suffering. Which is why this new information about radiation being found in baby formula in Japan is so shocking. We're still seeing ill effects at the Fukushima nuclear plant and its surroundings, and as higher than normal (which is scary phrase) radiation levels are found in milk that is given to babies as young as 9 months, it really hits home.

Parents already worry about the safety of our children, but when you're in an area susceptible to earthquakes, tsunamis, and nuclear meltdowns that can cause your children to develop cancer, well, that's when I might throw in the towel. 

Many countries are really pushing to ban formula advertising some  have already made formula marketing illegal. Keyword: advertising. Not formula itself, nor peoples' ability to choose/use it. They're banning the commercials, ads in baby and pregnancy magazines, coupons from your OB or with your maternity clothes, and the free samples that show up in your mailbox because someone sold your name to a formula company. You know, they're just looking to stop the constant bombardment of "formula formula formula!" that moms face.

Formula companies list "Breast is best" somewhere small and easy to overlook, instead of sharing the many benefits why it is best. I find that comparing formula freebies to a dieter having chocolate cake can help people really understand the issue.

Back in the day, breastfeeding was the only way to go because formula was not a safe option. In fact, the rates of death were somewhere between 50 and 90 percent, and the concoctions were something like bread broth, crumbs cooked in milk or water, or even milk with eggs and spices and sugar. Yiiiiikes! So the babies who did live on artificial food usually weren't exactly thriving.

In the industrial 18th century in the UK, there was a drop in breastfeeding, likely because more women went out to work. The amount of women in the workforce seems to be directly related to the drop in breastfeeding. It's not like they had laws to provide them with time and a place to pump breastmilk. I'm sure they didn't even have good breast pumps.

We hear a lot about all the benefits of breastfeeding for babies: how a mother's milk adapts to her baby's changing needs; how it's rich in nutrients; how it contains antibodies that protect infants from everything from asthma to diabetes to obesity to SIDS; how it promotes bonding -- and, heck, may even make kids smarter!

So, yeah, there are a ton of selfless reasons to breastfeed. But you know what? There are also a lot of totally selfish reasons to breastfeed, too.

For instance? Well, let's see ...