Breastfeeding exclusively for six months may put babies off some foods and increase their risk of allergies, obesity and iron deficiency, an expert report reveals today.
\nThe highly controversial study, published in the British Medical Journal, raises serious questions about the Government\u2019s advice to hold off giving babies any solid food until they are six months old.
\nThe authors \u2013 who include Professor Alan Lucas, director of the largest child and nutrition research centre in Europe, and Professor Ian Booth, an expert in paediatrics and child health at Edinburgh University \u2013 are now calling for a review of the guidance.
\nThey said the decision to adopt the six months goal, after a World Health Organisation (WHO) recommendation in 2001, underwent \u201csurprisingly little scrutiny\u201d in the UK. They added that 65% of European countries and the United States did not fully adopt the advice, if at all.
\nDr Mary Fewtrell, consultant paediatrician at University College London\u2019s Institute of Child Health and lead author on the report, said: \u201cTo make mothers feel they have failed because they have not reached this six-month target, particularly when it is not solidly evidence-based, is simply wrong.
\n\u201cI think we should be more honest with parents as to what evidence we have. At any other developmental stage of a baby\u2019s life we do not expect them to achieve it at the same time. Why this should be seen in a different way, I do not know.\u201d
\nThe authors stress they are not disputing the benefits of breastfeeding, but wholeheartedly support it alongside the timely introduction of other food.
\nAccording to their research, the Who recommendation \u201crested largely\u201d on a review of 16 studies, including seven from developing countries, where infants are at much higher risk of infection.
\nWhile this concluded babies just given breast milk for six months had fewer illnesses and experienced no growth problems, the experts say a review of another 33 studies found \u201cno compelling evidence\u201d against starting solids from four months onwards.
\nIn fact, they say some research has shown purely breastfeeding for so long does not give infants all the nutrition they need. One US study found it leaves children at greater risk of anemia, which can permanently damage their development.
\nThere is also mixed evidence on whether children who live on breastmilk for six months are at greater risk of allergies.
\nResearchers in Sweden found the incidence of early onset coeliac disease increased after a recommendation to delay introduction of gluten until six months, \u201cand it fell to previous levels after the recommendation reverted to four months,\u201d say the authors.
\nThey later add: \u201cThere are also relatively unexplored concerns about the potential for prolonged exclusive breastfeeding to reduce the window for introducing new tastes. Bitter tastes, in particular, may be important in the later acceptance of green leafy vegetables, which may potentially affect later food preferences with influence on health outcomes such as obesity.\u201d
\nThey note most parents already make a judgement on the right time to wean their children based on their behaviour, with a UK survey in 2005 showing just 1% limit their diet to breastmilk for six months.
\nScotland has poor breastfeeding rates overall, with almost three-quarters of babies drinking infant formula by eight weeks.
\nGillian Smith, director of the Scotland board for the Royal College of Midwives, agreed there was a need to review the evidence.
\nShe added: \u201cWith this report coming out I think health professionals advising mothers are going to need more information on what guidance they should be giving.\u201d
\nA Scottish Government spokeswoman said: \u201cWe want every child to get the best possible start in life and we know breastfeeding has many major health benefits for mum and baby \u2013 both short and long-term.
\n\u201cThat\u2019s why we fully endorse the World Health Organisation\u2019s guidance, recommending exclusive breastfeeding until a baby is six months old, when solids should be introduced.\u201d
\nShe said this followed the consensus of international opinion, but they would continue to monitor emerging evidence.
\nA new framework on maternal and infant nutrition will be published by the Scottish Government later this month.
\nSource: heraldscotland.com<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Breastfeeding exclusively for six months may put babies off some foods and increase their risk of allergies, obesity and iron deficiency, an expert report reveals today. The highly controversial study, published in the British Medical Journal, raises serious questions about the Government\u2019s advice to hold off giving babies any solid food until they are six […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":0,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-274228","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard"],"yoast_head":"\n