Just to add a bit to the discussion as "food for thought." In my experience, many many pediatricians in my part of the world (southern USA) automatically recommend starting "solids" at the 4 month well baby visit, just going by the calendar, first solids being manufactured baby rice cereal, then manufactured "baby food" in little jars consisting of pureed fruits and veggies. My pedi even wrote it down on a prescription note, something like 1 tsp cereal at 10-2-6. When I think about this, it is absolutely ludicrous! So I think that some bf advocates in the USA are reeling against this kind of blanket recommendation, and are "latching onto" the 6 mos mark, to give these babies a chance to not get started on a regimen of inferior solids because inevitably we see a decrease in bf and milk supply. So I think the AAP policy (1997)is a step in the right direction and appropriate advice for most of USA babies; it states "excl. bf is ideal nutrition and sufficient to support optimal growth and development for approximately the first 6 mos after birth" and "in the first 6 mos, water, juice, and other foods are generally unnecessary for bf infants." I appreciate Kathy taking the time to give us all the WHO info, which I agree with, and feel is very appropriate based on my own clinical experience too. What is more imperative is for healthcare providers to look more at the baby's growth and development, health, etc, and counsel moms about readiness for solids and what is really appropriate solids, ala Dr. Jack or LLL recommendations, which I feel are right on. Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC Violet Louisiana, s.e. USA ________________________________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com *********************************************** The LACTNET mailing list is powered by L-Soft's renowned LISTSERV(R) list management software together with L-Soft's LSMTP(TM) mailer for lightning fast mail delivery. For more information, go to: http://www.lsoft.com/LISTSERV-powered.html