My daughter (second child) was born weighing 8 pounds exactly and weighed
just over 17 pounds at one year. She refused solid foods altogether until
close to a year and at that point ate only a few spoonfuls a day. But she
was always healthy, bright, and developing well. Now she's 22 and is 5'2"
tall and slender.

I don't understand why, when a toddler is not eating very much, doctors so
often suggest weaning. Surely if the child isn't eating a lot, we should be
pleased that at least he is getting plenty of a highly nutritious food in
breastmilk. Yes, I understand concerns about iron and getting enough
calories - but I can't see how we improve the situation by taking away the
one thing the child is consuming in good amounts. Is there any research on
this? Any proof that weaning or cutting back on breastfeeding will increase
weight gain, growth, health?

Teresa Pitman
Guelph, Ontario

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