|
LP, MD- Jan 22,
2011
Babies
develop swallowing reflex by 4 month of their age. I see they are ready to
swallow somewhat semisolid stuff by then. I recommend baby food when they are
ready to swallow something more solid then milk. It varies somewhat, but around
4 month of age. I am retired pediatrician.
|
JS, MD- Jan 22,
2011
Quite
frankly it is up to my patients not up to me . I will give my patients advice
but it is ultimately up to them. As for this study are the kids being fed real
food (organic with no preservatives or artificial color flavors) or the stuff
sold in most stores that have so many chemicals you could start a lab? If the
kids are not being fed real food the study is flawed because you don't know if
the food allergy is due to the food or the chemicals or processing. I want to
see more info before I can make an educated decision.
|
KD- Jan 22,
2011
I'm
very concerned about the message being dispersed by the major media and it's
important that we continue stressing breast feeding as long as practical and
possible and the critical importance. I suggest adding some solid foods when the
mother is not producing enough milk and the child is healthy. A lot more
information is needed before any broad recommendation such as this is even
suggested. We still have a ways to go just getting U.S. mothers to breast feed.
You also have the problem of the mother's milk production decreasing
prematurely. This is too little information too soon.
|
M.B.A., B.S. Health Sciences- Jan 22, 2011
Feed
when hungry. It is not difficult to determine when a liguid diet has become
inadequate.
|
JR, MD - Jan
22, 2011
Frankly
I'm surprised at this discussion though I really shouldn't be. In all fields, if
you forget what you have learned many years ago this would not be a question.
Breast feeding duration was once only determined by the baby and its mother (wet
nurse, etc). When the baby could not be satisfied, and often before, it was put
on semi-solid foods to start. In my childhood back in the 40's and 50's (I
started practicing as a teenager in 1952), I never heard of allergies to peanuts
or food of any kind. With the advent of artificial feeding, and the use of
chemical additives to foods --- then allergies began to creep up on us. So now,
we reap what we have sown.
|
Pamela
McKimie,DCP(AAIM)- Jan
22, 2011
We
know that breastfeeding has many benefits. I think mom and baby are the one's to
decide when to introduce foods.Often times, once the baby reaches 4 or 5 months
old, breastfeeding alone is not enough. If my patients do want to introduce
foods, I recommend they introduce 1 food at a time, so that allergies or
digestive issues can be determined.However, I still recommend that they continue
with breastfeeding until the baby(or mom) decides to
stop.
|
Judy RN- Jan 23,
2011
What
recent evidence? You don't mean that research put out paid for by the formula
companies do you????
|
DM RN- Jan 23,
2011
I
am a certified breastfeeding consultant/teacher and have been for 21 yrs.I also
manage Mother/Baby and am charge RN for NICU. I also breastfed all four of my
kids exclusively for 6 mos, then added cereal on a spoon, etc. In my experience
and teachings, breast milk can actually prevent asthma and food allergies. Of
course, there's a chance for allergies to certain things, but that is more true
in non-breastfed or supplemented with formula, made out of synthetic and animal
ingredients.Human milk is amazing in that it changes as the baby does. Premature
babies have moms who will pump very skim, digestable milk, thickening as time
passes and the baby grows. At 6 mos the swallowing mech. is more coordinated and
they can eat from a spoon, only organic ground/pureed food, but breastfeeding
should go on for a year along with baby food after 6 mos. Cereal should never be
added to bottles as this increases aspiration.
|
DD, MD- Jan 24,
2011
Breast
feeding and it's duration is decided upon by the mother and baby.We the
physician are only the consultant. We,all,have to stop and think:What are we
missing when we switch to semisolid and solid food? The critical missing
ingridient missed is Niacin! Niacin,why?Because is the best vitamin-nutrient to
raise the H.D.L. What do you know about Niacin and
H.D.L.?
|
MC, NP- Jan 24,
2011
My
gosh. Once again man is trying to show that we know more than God! I've got to
agree with Dr. Raitt. He is right on!
|
EM, FNP-C - Jan 24, 2011
Agree
with Judy! What recent evidence indeed!? Where is the study? N=? and what food
allergies are considered? Every mother who has breast fed her baby knows when
the infant requires cereal, fruit and a biter biscuit/teething ring. At that
point I have always considered breast feeding 'breast drinking' - especially in
moms who are fortunate enough to be home with their babies. Moreover, the
quality of mother's milk changes along with the child's age and nutritional
requirements which is why most pediatricians very correctly will call breast
milk "God's elixir". Babies who nurse up till age two are also taking in a
variety of solids which augment an support the breast feeding process, most
significantly in the early morning and at night. Most babies are very busy
during the day at that point and are most attched to the early morning, naptime
and bedtime breast feed. Thereafter, a baby's diet will often reflect cultural
and economic aspects of the family with consideration to a child's nutritional
needs.
|
|
AA, MD- Jan 24,
2011
Sure...
breastfeed until mom and child decide. Have you seen those kids who are still
breasfeeding at age 4, and I mean 4 years ! I think some guidance is needed for
those cases. What I tell my patients is when the kid is about 4 months it is
time to introduce something more to the infant's diet.
So, it seems their may be an effort to push the idea of solid food earlier into our babies diets. While one should always consider both sides of an argument and concede that things can and do change, I cant help to wonder as my many of these health professionals with countless years of experience seem to have done, that this may be more about 'pushing a product' rather than improving our childrens' health. Stay tuned and dont be surprised if you see something like this on the cable networks "news ticker" or health related stories.
|
|
