On Sun, 15 Oct 2000 06:50:19 +0200, Esther G <[log in to unmask]>
wrote:

>< Have you noticed babies who are exclusively bf at 6 mos start to slow
>growth or become "ftt" because solids were not started?>
>
I think this "theory" is a maistream, miseducated holdover from the "start
'um at 6 weeks" camp. I have only seen ftt in babies who were intentionally
held back from solids when they were clearly ready for them. 6 months is
not the perfect age for ALL babies. Some are ready later and some even a
(little) earlier. I think educating moms about recognizing the signs of the
need for solids is much more positive than giving breastfeeding moms one
more thing to worry about. (ie "if I don't get him on solids the week he
turns 6 months he'll never eat them and get sick")

I agree that the current trend to start vegetable first is ludicrous. I
give my own babies fruit first because the taste is sweet and palatable and
the baby ENJOYS it! Food should be enjoyable, not a chore.

The idea that a baby needs to be taken off of the breast in order to get
them to accept solids is ridicuous! In babies who have serious allergy
problems and are refusing solids for because of their own protective
mechanism, or just in cases where the baby isn't ready, breastmilk is the
ONLY nutrition that baby is getting! Taking that away is irresposible and
misguided.If these babies were ready or able to take solids, they would
have NO trouble taking them in addition to all the milk they can drink.
This line of thinking is also a holdover from ABM and cow's milk fed babies
who actually can get too full on an inappropriate food to the exclusion of
solids. I just don't see this happening with the babies I work with who
have mamas with a healthy attitude toward food.

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