Should the choice to become a vegan be a personal choice or parental choice?

Question

Vegan parents in Georgia were sentenced Wednesday to life in prison after their 6-week-old son died of malnutrition.

The baby, Crown Shakur, weighed only 3.5 pounds. He'd been fed mostly soy milk and apple juice. Vegans typically do not consume animal products.

Defense lawyers say the first-time parents did the best they could for their son while adhering to the strict lifestyle of vegans. They said Sanders and Thomas did not realize the baby -- who was born in a bathtub at their home -- was in danger until minutes before he died in April of 2004.

Answer 1

There's a difference between being a vegan and being stupid.
Whatever happened to breastmilk? Or do we consider ourselves animals?
And WTF were parents doing giving a 6-week old child apple juice? They were obviously just space cadets anyway - bad parents in general, it had nothing to do with their dietary choice - they just forgot to use their brains.
They SHOULD go to jail - stupid people who are clueless about starving a freaking babyneed to be off the streets so they don't harm themselves or others. How did they ever manage to function on a daily basis? They must have needed help getting dressed in the morning - I bet someone was there to wipe their a$$e$ too - HOW COULD YOU NOT KNOW YOUR BABY IS STARVING?? is the anorexic look really that in-style now that they thought less than 4 pounds was normal??

Answer 2

Totally off topic from what you posted, and the asnwers, but yes.......if parents are vegan or vegetarian, yes, they do have a right to raise their children on the diet they choose. There are many soy milk baby formulas on the market that are healthy. Of course, breast milk is best, if the mother is healthy. I had babies, am not vegan or vegetarian, but at 6 weeks old, the digestive system of an infant is not ready for anything other than breast milk (best) or formula.
I'm sure there were other factors than vegan or vegetarianism in this story.

I have friends who are in their 40's and 50's have been vegetarian all their lives, and raised their children that way. All are healthy, happy and strong.

When a child hits the teen years, has some money to spend, and want to try a burger or whatever, they should be able to have that choice. Same with a meat eating family, if a teen wishes to become vegetarian or vegan, I think it would be wise for the parents to honor that and help the young person make good choices for a healthy balanced diet.
JMHO

Answer 3

I think that vegan parents should consult with their pediatrician to determine what to do for their newborn and children. If the pediatrician is also knowledgeable about Vegan cuisine, then they can guide them as to what foods, milk, etc., to use while the infant is growing. You left out whether these were cultural beliefs or not, and that also plays a part in this. It sounds like these parents did a home birth with someone assisting them, but perhaps did not have insurance, or the money, to seek out professional assistance. I'm sorry that their child died, but I suspect that there is more going on than their vegan lifestyles.

Answer 4

I think thats just dumb parenting and has nothing to do with them being vegans, and I'd think any vegan would be fine with a mother breast feeding their child vs. soy milk

Answer 5

What is your problem with people choosing to be vegetarian or vegan. You are always posting asinine questions or questions with obvious agendas in this forum. Do you own stock in a meat company?

Lots of meat eaters neglect their children too, and are not the sharpest crayons in the box. Should they not be allowed to eat meat because of that?

Please lead your own life, and leave this forum to those with legitimate inquiries.

Answer 6

I think a parent should be able to keep their child an a vegan diet as long as that child remains healthy!

Answer 7

I agree with above, if the mother had fed breast milk the baby would be fine. Unfortunately she either didn't ask for advice or her doctor didn't give it.