There has been some discussion on Lactnet about these "new" guidelines.  In 
fact these guidelines are not based on any new research and there is nothing 
to substantiate the theory that introducing solid food earlier reduces later 
food allergies.
We should note that the WHO has not recognized these so-called guidelines 
and still recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months. Since 
babies are individuals, we need to also listen to their cues - if an infant 
is grabbing some food off his parent`s plate because it looks so 
interesting, it doesn`t really matter whether it is 4.5, 5 or 6 months.
As I mentioned in a posting some time ago, there was a strange correlation 
between the list of pediatricians who published these guidelines for the 
Israeli Ministry of Health and the panel of pediatricians who get paid by a 
local formula company for working on their "hot line."
As for peanuts:  A Prof. Katz of Tel Aviv University published a research 
paper a couple of years ago showing that Israeli infants who are fed a 
peanut snack called Bamba suffered less from later peanut allergies than the 
British control group who did not have exposure to peanuts in the first 
year.
The research was questionable because for one thing, nobody in their right 
mind would feed these easy-to-choke-on peanut snacks to infants under one 
year and secondly the research was funded by the American Peanut Board.

Meanwhile did any of you note that the British Government is not funding 
Breastfeeding Week this year.  No doubt they would be generous if it was 
Nestles week!!!

Wendy Blumfield
Israel Childbirth Education Centre
NCT UK Trained Tutor Prenatal Teacher/Breastfeeding Counsellor 

             ***********************************************

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