I agree with Nina, and would add that when a mother is malnourished to the point that her milk is of failing to adequately feed her baby the treatment for both is TO FEED THE MOTHER - not feed solids to the baby. In third world country situations, the 6mo mark is even more important because introducing solids also introduces a high risk of the baby getting diarrheal infections. That was one of the considerations that the WHO had to account for when making the recommendation, this had to be counterbalanced with the risk of anemia in babies in developed countries. In the end, the risk of anemia (which can easily be monitored and treated in developed countries) was lower than the risk of death from diarrhea, so the 6 mo recommendation stands. Again, I support this recommendation, but knowing the whole picture helps when dealing with individual situations.
I'd also want to clarify that there are several developmental marks that identify a baby as being ready for other foods. Simply showing interest in putting food in their mouth is not one of them, babies learn about the world through their mouth. Someone already mentioned that they don't really know the difference between food items and objects, it's just what babies do.
Have a good week!
Daniela
Daniela Torres Marco MS, RD, IBCLCPediatric DietitianBoard Certified Lactation Consultant> Date: Mon, 25 Feb 2008 08:33:00 +1100> From: [log in to unmask]> Subject: Re: [LACTNET] What is a clinical reason to introduce solids prior to 6> To: [log in to unmask]> > Hi Kris> Have a look at KRAMER, M. S., KAKUMO, RITSUKO (2002) Optimal duration of> exclusive breastfeeding: a systematic review, Geneva, Department of> Nutrition for Health and Development & Department of Child and Adolescent> Health and Development - World Health Organization.> This work weighs the so called weanling's dilemma and concludes that there> is less risk of harm to infants from malnutrition when they are exlusively> breastfed for around six months than there is of malnutrition/other> morbidities when they are exclusively breastfed for 4 months.> Game over.> Nina Berry> Australia> > ***********************************************> > Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html> To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]> Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask]> COMMANDS:> 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail> 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail> 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet> 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome>
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