Magda writes:
<snip>


>
>The Lactnet debate has focussed on the introduction of solids, but I think
>it is worth remembering that the underlying understandings of desirable
>growth are, themselves, cultural artefacts which reflect observed physical
>phenomenon, but are not, in themselves absolute imperatives or demonstrably
>'true'.
>


Correct. We have very questionable data on *how* babies *should* grow
(especially if fully bf) and how wide the spectrum of normal is.
Clearly, true failure to thrive is to be avoided - but in the UK,
anyway,  the margins of what would constitute FTT are hotly debated
and highly coloured with cultural and social overlay.

There is every reason to assume this is as culturally-bound as every
other aspect of feeding and health.

However, I do think we have rather better data on anaemia, and in the
UK at least, there is good information that anaemia affects health
and development, and that its affect on health and development is
measurable, at least in toddlers, which is the age group mostly
reported on, at least as far as the research I have seen.


Heather Welford Neil
NCT bfc Newcastle upon Tyne UK

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