My brother refused solids until well beyond 18 months. This was in the early
60's . My mother cut his bottle's nipple holes bigger and slowly added
thinned cereals to his ABM but he would not take it. He was a chubby baby
and today is 6" 7", stocky and healthy. He has always had eating habits that
were "strange" when compared to the rest of the family. He refused most
fruits and many vegetables until he was in his twenties. He has a long
history of stomach aches and constipation.

I suspect he had food allergies and his body knew he wasn't ready for other
foods. I wonder  if he would have had the stomach problems, weird diet and
constipation if he has been fed breastmilk?

I wonder if your client's baby has food allergies? There is a LLLL whose son
had only breastmilk until something like 18 mos-2 years and grew into a
healthy adult. Turns out he had food allergies and could only tolerate
breastmilk. Cindy Smith, are you out there to fill in the details?

Are there any signs of FTT besides refusing other foods? What is babies
height? weight? growth history?

One week forced separation? This is very harmful advice. Doctor needs some
child development education pronto. Forced separation of baby from mother is
not the answer. In fact it is potentially traumatic  and more likely to harm
the baby.  Same for cessation of breastfeeding.

Why not encourage maximum breastfeeding with much mother baby togetherness
first. I'd try a Floridix vitamin & mineral supplement for the baby first.
Stop the pediasure. A homevisit is in order.

What foods is the baby being offered? Does s/he have any favorites? What
about family history of eating? food introduction? food allergies?

Either this child has food allergies and is acting out of self preservation
or something is amiss  physiologically and needs to be investigated.

Weaning and separation will do more harm than good for this child.

Bravo, hear the applause! for the father who supports his child's need to
breastfeed.

Please discourage the separation and weaning.  Find another doctor. Contact
me privately if you want suggestions for pediatricians who are educated in
child development and respect the importance of keeping breastfeeding and
mother-child unit intact.


Lisa Boisvert-Mackenzie, Midwife
Saipan, Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands

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