>I just had a parent raise an interesting question to me, however. The
>dad said that the AAP's guideline to have *exclusive*  breastfeeding
>for the first 6 months wasn't right; he insisted that as soon as the
>infant extends his hand when the food is on the parents' table, the
>infant is ready to eat other foods.
>
>I was stumped, and could only repeat the AAP's stance. Kathy, do you
>have any thoughts on this? Does this fit with the anthropologist's
>view?

I agree with the father 100% -- watch the baby, listen to the baby, follow
the baby's cues.  Have the baby at the table with the rest of the family
when everyone is eating.  Have available for the baby appropriate foods
(healthy, high nutrient density, nothing dangerous, nothing highly prone to
be allergic) and offer the baby food to eat on his own (not spoonsfuls of
pureed mush) whenever she or he expresses an interest.  It will be the rare
baby who expresses an interest before 4 months, and the rare baby who shows
no interest after 6 months.

I would say that the World Health Organization's infant feeding
recommendations are more useful than the AAPs.  The WHO says a 4-6 month
range, rather than the "about six months" of the AAP.  One needs to realize
that these recommendations are for people who are otherwise clueless about
when to start a baby on solids, and especially for people who do not, in
general, respect the baby as an individual.

Kathy Dettwyler

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