Current guidelines advise mothers in the UK to breast feed exclusively for the first six months but this advice is being questioned by experts. A study published on 14th January 2011, recommends introducing babies to solid foods at four months.
This new research suggests that babies exclusively breast fed for six months could be at risk of iron deficiencies and of developing food allergies.
Babies may benefit from being introduced to solids earlier
The researchers, from three child health institutes in London, Birmingham and Edinburgh, published their findings in the British Medical Journal (BMJ). According to the study, babies may benefit from starting on solid food earlier than the current recommendation of six months.
Having reviewed the evidence behind current guidelines, they say the time is right to reappraise this recommendation. The researchers are keen to stress that they fully support exclusive breast feeding early in life but they are “concerned that exclusively doing so for six months and not introducing other foods may not always be in the child's best interests."
The World Health Organization (WHO) published global advice ten years ago, recommending that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first six months. The WHO recommendation concluded that babies just exclusively breastfed for six months had fewer infections and experienced no growth problems.
Study leader Dr Mary Fewtrell, a consultant paediatrician from the University Of London Institute Of Child Health, said the six month recommendation is very sensible for babies in developing countries where there is a high risk of illness, infection and infant death due to limited access of clean water and safe weaning foods. The UK, as a developed country with none of these problems, should reconsider its stance she says.
"When you look at the figures, there are a lot of babies being weaned before six months anyway - and that's probably the most important thing in terms of hard evidence," said Dr Fewtrell. She added: "Many western countries, including 65% of European member states and the US, elected not to follow this [WHO] recommendation fully, if at all.” In 2003, a decision was made by a UK health minister to comply with the WHO recommendations.
In 2009, the European Food Safety Agency published guidelines which suggest that some, but not all, babies can benefit from being weaned between four and six months.
The current WHO guidelines recommending starting solids at six months were based on findings which said that breast feeding reduced babies' risk of developing infections.
Risk of iron deficiency in breastfed babies
However, their research also highlighted a potential risk that babies may develop iron deficiency anaemia if only fed with breast milk. The WHO still recommends exclusive breast feeding for the first six months. They also recommend continuing to breastfeed, alongside giving solid food, for 2 years and beyond.
What should breast feeding mothers do?
New parents often feel that they are given conflicting advice. So when exactly should breast feeding mothers be intoducing their babies to solid food? The official advice by the World Health Organisation is still that babies should be introduced to solid food at six months. The UK’s Department of Health state that "Around six months your baby needs more than milk alone and is able to eat solid foods in addition to breast or formula milk."
They advise parents to begin the weaning process when their baby is able to sit up, put objects into his/her mouth and is accurately reaching and grabbing.
A spokeswoman for The Department of Health said: "Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs up to six months of age and we recommend exclusive breast feeding for this time.”
"Mothers who wish to introduce solids before six months should always talk to health professionals first."
In the UK, the Department of Health has assembled an expert body who will undertake a full review of infant nutrition, taking these recent findings into consideration. The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition will report on their findings later this year.
Though the advice about intoducing solids may be changing, it is important to remember that there are many benefits of continuing to breastfeed alongside offering solid food. Many mothers carry on breastfeeding for longer than six months and in many parts of the world it’s normal to continue for much longer than this. According to the WHO, the world average duration of breastfeeding is 4.2 years.
Read more at Suite101: Breasfeeding After the First Six Months
References:
Institute of Child Health, "Is ‘Breast Only’ for First Six Months Best?” University College London, 14 January 2011. Accessed 15 January 2011.
BBC News Health,'Weaning before six months 'may help breastfed babies', 14 January 2011, Accessed 15 January 2011.
Josie Budd - Hi, I am a writer, personal growth blogger, photographer, meditator and mother based in Glastonbury, UK. As a writer and science graduate, ...
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