Susan, a great post, thank you, reminding us of some crucially important factors. Pamela >Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2014 08:53:56 -0400 >From: Susan Burger <[log in to unmask]> >Subject: Re: Early Solids > >Dear all: > >There is a wide body of research on how introducing solids too much >too early can DECREASE weight gain. The vast majority of solids >that are typically offered to infants as starter foods are simply >are not calorically dense enough to compensate for lack of enough >human milk. Some of the strategies to increase caloric content are >ultimately not healthy - such as offering lots of sugary or fatty >foods which have a different composition of fat than human milk. > >There is also the issue of how much solids can a four month old gut >tolerate when it was meant to handle a predominately liquid >diet? What happens to a baby whose mother's milk supply is less >than 50%? What happens to the digestive tract of a baby who >suddenly has to deal with drinking a lot more water to compensate >for the lack of liquid in the diet? > >There is also the question of readiness to feed. An infant who is >not ready to consume solid foods who is pushed to eat it may be >vulnerable to disregulation of their hunger and satiety cues. > >Babies were meant to be on a milk only diet to AROUND six months of >age. We are the only mammals whose infants start consuming solids >before we have a full set of teeth - but around six months our >infants typically start getting some teeth. Medical anthropologist >believe we may have been chewing up bits of meat and putting it into >our infants mouths for infants to meet the iron and zinc needs that >usually outstrip consumption from human milk around six >months. Typically at that age the caloric needs of an infant are >really still met by human milk, not solids. > >Those of us in the generation whose parents were told to give us >solids at ridiculously early ages do not seem to be fairing well in >terms of inflammatory disease at older ages. I think the jury is >clear cut on use of solids before "around" six months in areas with >poor sanitation, clear cut on use of solids before four months in >areas of good sanitation. I haven't read anything peer reviewed >article yet that has convinced me of a compelling reason that >introduction of solids before "around" six months in areas of good >sanitation is beneficial. Furthermore, I think there is an >increasingly plausible amount of emerging research on gut flora that >we do not yet understand fully how solids before six months will >affect future health. > >I think the debate over "solids versus formula" before six months is >sheer speculation regardless of which side you "believe" in. > >While I really appreciate Jack Newman's advocacy for breastfeeding >and his generally good advice, he and I have agreed to disagree on >test weighing. I think on the topic of pushing solids before four >months with no good evidence one way or another is another one where >I will respectfully disagree with him as well because he is >providing a "blanket" recommendation. My discussions with mothers >in such situations are entirely on a case by case basis where a lot >more than the infant's age is taken into consideration. --- This email is free from viruses and malware because avast! Antivirus protection is active. http://www.avast.com *********************************************** Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html To reach list owners: [log in to unmask] Mail all list management commands to: [log in to unmask] COMMANDS: 1. To temporarily stop your subscription write in the body of an email: set lactnet nomail 2. To start it again: set lactnet mail 3. To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet 4. To get a comprehensive list of rules and directions: get lactnet welcome