I was concerned by the comment that WHO recommended breastfeeding for 4
months, and that was the Canadian mother's goal for how long to nurse her
child.  The 4 months rule is actually "4 to 6 months" and refers to
*exclusive* breastfeeding, meaning no other food or liquids, not to
*breastfeeding* in the general sense.  The World Health Organization
recommends *breastfeeding* for two years or MORE.  I'm sure they would be
very dismayed (James Akre, are you listening?) to think that people were
interpreting their guidelines as meaning that breastfeeding could/should
stop at 4 months.


Katherine A. Dettwyler, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Anthropology
Texas A&M University
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(409) 845-5256
(409) 778-4513