WHO guidelines

[fraktious]

Can anyone clear something up for me?

EBF for 6 months and BF until 2 - just for Africa/LEDCs or the whole world? Any reputable, neutral (as in not the WHO or quoting them) sources which say one way or the other?

[lilham]

I believe it's the whole world. Have a look at your NHS birth to 5 book. It clearly says solids around 6mo. And it's common for babies to stop sleeping through at 4-5mo and that's not a reason for solids.

I don't think it's says anything about weaning them off the breast though.

[MoonFaceMamaaaaargh]

afaik the nhs doesn't give guidance re min age for bf (while who says 2)...though the 2 yr check in red book assumes bf has stopped by then. But for the vast majority it has so guess it's a fair (if discouraging) assumption.

Who guidelines are for everyone. Bm is better for all human infants (than cows/formula) regardless of where they live.

[tiktok]

Clue is in the name World Health Organisation :)

UK guidelines are the same, except no upper limit for bf - even the WHO says something about 'two years and beyond', IIRC.

[KaraStarbuckThrace]

'Recognizing that infant and young-child mortality can be reduced
through improved nutritional status of women of reproductive age, especially during pregnancy, and by exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months of life, and with nutritionally adequate and safe complementary feeding through introduction of safe and adequate amounts of
indigenous foodstuffs and local foods while breastfeeding continues up
to the age of two years or beyond'
This is from the Global Strategy for Infant and Child Feeding published by the WHO.

HTH

[AngelDog]

The WHO guidelines for Europe also quote 2 years and beyond.

According to Kellymom the American Academy of Family Physicians notes that children weaned before two years of age are at increased risk of illness (AAFP 2001).

From the same source:

'Nursing toddlers between the ages of 16 and 30 months have been found to have fewer illnesses and illnesses of shorter duration than their non-nursing peers (Gulick 1986).'

The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that "Breastfeeding should be continued for at least the first year of life and beyond for as long as mutually desired by mother and child... Increased duration of breastfeeding confers significant health and developmental benefits for the child and the mother... There is no upper limit to the duration of breastfeeding and no evidence of psychologic or developmental harm from breastfeeding into the third year of life or longer." (AAP 2005)

The American Academy of Family Physicians recommends that breastfeeding continue throughout the first year of life and that "As recommended by the WHO, breastfeeding should ideally continue beyond infancy, but this is not the cultural norm in the United States and requires ongoing support and encouragement. It has been estimated that a natural weaning age for humans is between two and seven years. Family physicians should be knowledgeable regarding the ongoing benefits to the child of extended breastfeeding, including continued immune protection, better social adjustment, and having a sustainable food source in times of emergency. The longer women breastfeed, the greater the decrease in their risk of breast cancer." They also note that "If the child is younger than two years of age, the child is at increased risk of illness if weaned." (AAFP 2008)

NHS info including EBF till around 6 months can be found here.

[fraktious]

thanks everyone! I shall quote those back at our non-UK paed who quite seriously told me that the WHO only applied to Africa and I should start weaning off the breast and giving cows milk at 10months. I somehow figured he wasn't going to listen to the WHO but want sure whether anyone else actively recommended it.

[lilham]

NHS definitely says cows milk not suitable as a main drink before 1. If you are weaning off the breast at 10mo, you should be giving formula instead. Is this pead practicing in the UK?

[fraktious]

Nope, thankfully. I'm not entirely sure what the local guidelines are but follow on formula is very heavily marketed and there were leaflets in the waitin room and it's not renown for being BF friendly.

[organiccarrotcake]

What country are yiou in?

[shuckleberryfinn]

my red book (which is oddly yellow) does have a breastfeeding box to tick at the 2 year check.

[fraktious]

Administratively I'm in France, except where I physically am is sort of like the Falklands is to the UK.