It is likely that most children nursed even 9 or 10 months exclusively
will be fine.  I have definitely seen an exclusively breastfed well
gaining 14 month old, who *was not* iron deficient.

Nevertheless, I do not think we should encourage this.  And there is
no doubt that some children who do not start eating by 8 or 9 months
will also be very difficult eaters.  Sometimes this results in poor
weight gain and malnutrition.

For this reason, I think parents should be encouraged to give the baby
food when the baby is showing he is ready (about 5 or 6 months of age,
when *most* try to grab food out of their parents plates).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC