Angie writes:

In my  opinion, the window of opportunity to introduce solids to a breastfed 
baby  begins with the AAP standards.  Maybe that feeding specialist is not 
very  supportive of lactation?  I have found in
practice that the longer the  initiation of solids are delayed past 6-8 
months, the increasing risk of  refusal.  Is it oral motor skill or is it 
preference for the  breast?  Problems with feeding can be the first
symptom of an  unrevealed medical problem OR a parenting pattern.



~~ You bring up an interesting couple of points. One, sadly pediatricians  do 
not follow their own standards, and still insist at 4 months. Even the AAP  
does not agree with itself, since the Breastfeeding Section wanted 6 ( like  
UNICEF's Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding), but the Nutrition  
Section stuck with 4-6. Another point is that language is key: you are saying 
 initiation, which I agree with and which to me means offering appropriate  
complementary foods at 6 months, while many other HCPs talk about this as if 
the  baby must not only be offered food, they MUST eat it. Delaying solids means 
 someone has not even offered the baby the chance to try some solids, which I 
 agree may be based on parental choice, though often it is also based on an  
inappropriate initiation that was unsuccessful, with tongue extrusion, 
gagging,  etc. Since too many moms are still pushed to introduce not around 6 months 
by BY  6 months, or even 4, this may be a normal aspect of not being ready. I 
agree  that in a baby older than 8 months, with gagging, tongue extrusion,  
etc, complete refusal needs to be looked at for something else going  on.
 
Peace,
Judy



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