Hello LactNetters.  I'm sending along a post I made to parent-l, where we've
been having quite a discussion about introducing solids.  I saw this topic
in the last LactNet digest, so thought I'd throw in my .02 worth.
>
>I'm writing in response to Jay's comment that it has been proven that
babies can get all they need from their mom's for the first 12 months.  As a
blanket statement for all babies, in all circumstances, at all times, *this
isn't true*.  What many studies of growth have shown is that the "average"
baby gets everything he needs until six months.  This statement comes from
studies of large groups of children, who grow, as a group, right about the
50th percentile of the National Center for Health Statistics Growth
Standards.  When additional foods are *not* added to the diet, then the
average growth of the group tends to begin dropping below the 50th
percentile.  Hence the World Health Organization guidelines to add solids
beginning 4-6 months, to maintain growth.  No baby is "average" however,
some need solids before the 4-6 month window, though even in populations
where the mothers are themselves very malnourished, the breastfed babies, as
a group, grow along the 50th percentile of NCHS standards until 4 months.
In well-nourished populations, even with very healthy mothers, the group as
a whole begins to fall off if not supplemented after 6 months.  The point is
that within these "groups" are individual baby/mother pairs, and some babies
will do fine if not given any solids for 1 year, but many babies will not.
>
>        I plead with all parents, pediatricians, family, and friends to
*listen* to and observe the baby, and keep track of their growth.  If a five
month old *wants* to eat, I say let him (or her).  If the 8 month old
*wants* to eat, let him (or her).  And if the 16 month old seems to be doing
fine on mostly breast milk, offer lots of tasty foods, but don't push.  Try
not to get locked into any particular specific guideline, like "You can't
have any solids until the exact day you turn 6 months old"  Or 12 months
old, or whatever.  Each child will have their own individual growth pattern.
>
Kathy Dettwyler
e-mail to [log in to unmask]
Cockroach queen