Magda writes: > > >I bought a UK mother and baby mag recently, there was a free packet of >plastic 'weaning' spoons -- marked as suitable from 4 months. All that >packaging also has to change in line with the resolution (if the UK is going >to take it seriously -- they have endorsed it officially, but I very much >doubt it will be embraced with enthusiasm, understanding or even token >obesiances). I think before that happens, the UK and possibly other countries have to take on board the fact that giving the same advice to breastfeeding mothers and formula feeding mothers may not be helpful to either. There is a great resistance among some HPs in the UK that breastfeeding babies are actually different, physiologically and nutritionally, from formula fed babies. They want to pretend that at four months, they are all the same...and that what applies to formula fed babies applies equally to breastfed babies. I also deplore the lack of research into when a formula fed (or partially formula fed) baby might actually need other foods...the WHA resolution does not apply to them. Common sense might suggest that formula fed babies might truly need solid foods before breastfed babies, and who knows, they might even be better off nutritionally getting solid foods *before* four months... Now, if this became 'official', it would have a major commercial impact. If babies who are formula fed start having other foods at (say) three months in greater numbers, profits from formula will reduce. Some of these babies will be eating home prepared foods, and not commercially-packaged jars of over-priced branded gloop, especially in poorer countries. I suspect manufacturers have a higher mark-up on formula than on gloop,too, so the longer they can keep babies *on* formula and *off* solids (of whatever sort) the better. Adopting the resolution means accepting that breastfed babies are different from formula fed babies, and that is commercial and professional dynamite - and I agree, Magda, its putting-into-practice is unlikely to happen quickly. Heather Welford Neil NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK *********************************************** 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