>Where can I find a study that reveals the importance of breastmilk as the 
>primary source of nutrtion, to be offered before complimentary foods in the
>first year of life?  I have searched the AAP pages but have not 
>found  anything

The WHO materials for World BF Week 2005, theme "Breastfeeding and 
Family Foods", may be helpful.  See 
http://www.waba.org.my/wbw/wbw05/wbw2005.html and particularly the 
action folder http://www.waba.org.my/wbw/wbw05/actionfolder.pdf

I do have one serious concern with the action folder.  It makes the 
statement, "On average, breastfed babies of 6-8 months obtain around
70% of their energy needs from breastmilk, this falls to around 55% 
at 9-11 months, and 40% at 12-23 months." 

It is tempting to read these numbers as "shoulds".  BUT -- these 
numbers are NOT recommendations, rather statements of what has been 
determined to occur among breastfed babies in the US, and I believe 
they reflect less-than-optimal breastfeeding practices.  They come 
from the following publication:  Food and Nutrition Bulletin.  2003, 
24 (1) Special
Issue Based on World Health Organization Expert Consultation On
Complementary Feeding.
http://www.who.int/mip/2003/other_documents/en/FNB_24-1_WHO.pdf
[warning: it's 144 pages]  The percentages appear to be calculated
from the information in Table 2, which is on page 7 of the pdf.  The 
data came from a study in which mothers in the US breastfed their 
babies exclusively for at least 4 months, then did whatever they 
wanted with complementary foods.  Certainly many if not most of these 
mothers were influenced by the ubiquitous non-Code compliant 
marketing practices of baby food companies in the US.  The feeding 
practices of this population cannot be used as a recommendation for 
what breastfed babies SHOULD be doing.

Other than that little caveat, I have only praise for the WHO WBW 
documents.  They contain a lot of great information about the 
particulars of feeding solids to breastfed babies, and are 
well-referenced.

Warmly,
Margaret
Longmont, CO

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