Breastfeeding alone not best for baby

Breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months may not be best for babies after all, UK experts have said.

Exclusive breastfeeding may even increase the likelihood of the baby developing an iron deficiency, food allergies and becoming fussy about what foods it eats once weaning begins.

Currently women in the UK are advised to breast feed for the first six months of a baby's life, after which solid foods should be introduce.

But experts from the University College Institute of Health say delaying weaning until six months of age "may not always be in the child's best interest."

The UK guidelines arose from a review of 16 studies carried out by carried the World Health Organisation (WHO) in 2000, which concluded that babies exclusively breast fed have fewer infections.

However, another review of 33 studies found "no compelling evidence" against starting babies on solids at four to six months.

In the British Medical Journal, the authors led by consultant paediatrician Dr Mary Fewtrell, say the time is right to reappraise the current guidelines.

Dr Fewtrell says the evidence that breast milk alone provides sufficient nutrition for six months is questionable.

And says there is a higher risk of iron deficiency anaemia if babies are exclusively breast fed and that there could also be a higher incidence of coeliac disease and food allergies if children are not introduced to certain solid foods before six months.

Prolonged exclusive breast feeding may also reduce the window for introducing new tastes, particularly bitter taste which may be important in the later acceptance of green leafy vegetables. This could encourage unhealthy eating in later life and contribute to obesity, the experts say.

The professor and colleagues say they support exclusive breast feeding in less developed countries which have a high risk of infant death and access to clean water and safe weaning foods is limited. However, they concluded that it is now time to review UK recommendations.

Rosie Dodds, Senior Policy Adviser at the National Childbirth Trust (NCT) said: “Parents have a lot of decisions to make when they first start out. It can often seem like they can’t win and are criticised whatever they choose. NCT believes they should be supported to make their own decisions.

"Some parents offer their baby foods they can safely manage and find the baby starts to feed themselves when they are ready, which is often around six months.”

The findings are published in the British Medical Journal

This article was published on Fri 14 January 2011