to think that cunting Cow and Gate with their 'clever' marketing about babies 'needing iron' and funding 'research' have fucked up the last 10 years of improving and supporting breastfeeding?

[AtYourCervix]

1. 3 of the authors of that 'research' are funded by formula milk or baby food companies.

1. physiological third stage anyone?

a bit peppa

its been a long day, will read again tomorrow

Yes am not sure I'm making sense...just that could be the scientific logic massively misconstrued by the media (on purpose).

I see where you're coming from peppa. More interesting really, as you say, is the issue of when to introduce gluten etc. I was shocked when I first heard about the EAT study, and although I started weaning a wee bit early - or should I say DD started herself - I religiously avoided gluten, berries, eggs, etc. until 6 months. I haven't introduced egg even now. Now I'm wondering if that was right or not.

I see where you're coming from peppa. More interesting really, as you say, is the issue of when to introduce gluten etc. I was shocked when I first heard about the EAT study, and although I started weaning a wee bit early - or should I say DD started herself - I religiously avoided gluten, berries, eggs, etc. until 6 months. I haven't introduced egg even now. Now I'm wondering if that was right or not.

The gluten thing is confusing me - as it always seemed to be the bit of advice that was followed. People weaned at 4 months but waited until 6 months for gluten.

However they are saying that maybe it needs to be introduced before 6 months...not after 6 months - there is still a big difference of 24 weeks and 17 weeks. The EAT study I cannot get my head around.

One of the issues the authors raised was that perhaps some studies have shown that babies weaned after six months are at higher risk of allergies or whatever.

However this group of babies is quite specific if you think about it. Even people I know who religiously EBF for 6 months tend to introduced solids by 26 weeks. Waiting until after is slightly different. Some of the reasons weaning is delayed is high genetic allergy risk, issues with feeding, other illnesses etc - it is typically not a representative sample (I realise some people just choose to wait or some babies are not ready).

So if a baby has a high genetic risk of allergy you are likely to wait until after 6 months. Baby still has allergy. This does not mean that weaning later caused the allergy. It is likely that waiting longer reduced the effects of the allergy or perhaps introducing formula might have increased those effects. Waiting until 6 months will not wipe that risk of allergy out. You will never know what would have happened following other options - and allergies are not a yes/no situation but a continuum.

However...a simple correlational study or looking at two groups might conclude that those in the later weaning group had more allergies than those in the earlier weaning group. Unless the studies are accurately controlled for you cannot really pick these things out.

What we need is a randomised controlled trial but who is going to consent to that really? The EAT study kind of starts to look at this but again to me is biased because only certain people will sign up - perhaps those who were not that bothered about age of weaning or those who had severe allergy risks and just wanted to try anything.

So we are a bit stuck!

peppapighastakenovermylife
I really think as a mother you need to think about what is right for your child and not what all the 'research' says. Of course follow guidelines where you can but I would try and use a bit of parental discretion when deciding whether you wean at either 17 or 24 weeks. There is not much in it really and once you are not weaning too far either side of this recommendation, surely you cant be doing harm.

Peppapig - they have been studies that show that gluten been given too far post 6 months (7 months I think was used) is dangerous as by then the baby is likely to be eating larger portions and will get a large hit of gluten for their first taste.
Gluten given at the same time as bm has shown to reduce chance of allergy I think I've read before which might ad to the whole 'before 6 month' thing as it is generally assumed guidelines are being followed to the letter I think.

Whitehorn - no I do follow that . I am just confused by the research - I am actually an academic and my research area is breastfeeding and weaning and I'm confused by this!