NHS site has new BF advice!

[IAmTheCookieMonster]

www.nhs.uk/news/2011/01January/Pages/call-for-breastfeeding-advice-to-be-re-examined.aspx

It says that bf babies that are weaned at 6 months could have low iron levels, but the risk of infection is lower too.

What would you priorise? Preventing infection or possible anaemia?

I think for UK babies they're saying it's better to wean between 4 and 6 months as the risk of infection from dirty food sources is lower. In developing countries the risk of infection is higher and poses a great risk of serious harm coming to the baby than possible anaemia (which is by no means definite. Only some babies may develop anaemia)

or-breastfeeding-advice-to-be-re-examined.aspx

so would you wean at 4 months or wait?

Neither risk seems to outweigh the other

i think the anaemia thing is a total red herring.

Even an adult with anaemia can build up levels of haemoglobin again.

what about all the virgin gut stuff?

nickle thats the other thing i thought, once they are 6 months they can catch up

Over here, they are saying parents can wean if their baby appears to be ready from 4 months. Some babies may not be ready until 6 months, but previously the advice was no solids before 6 months, but now you can introduce solids from 4 months if you feel your child is ready (God knows how you're supposed to know that)

That link does not work.

I highly doubt the NHS has changed their advice overnight based on this one article. They may have summarised some of the key points but not changed their advice.

other sources cited on here today have said that it is believed that the reserves of Iron in a baby can last up to 12 months.

here's the correct link

This study has got holes all over it, because they haven't really taken in to consideration that iron in bm is more readily absorbed than the iron in formula.

Really what I think they're saying is that the whole "nothing but bm until 6 months" should be re-examined and may not be entirely appropriate for children in the UK. I think anyone who has got a baby aged 4-6 months should carry on doing exactly what they were doing despite this report. If bf/formula feeding or weaning.

Of course the advice will not have changed.

It takes a long time to assess research evidence - you don't turn it over on a whim.

Link www.nhs.uk/news/2011/01January/Pages/call-for-breastfeeding-advice-to-be-re-examined.aspx

Why do you think the advice has changed, CookieMonster?

Is low iron levels a bad thing?

And if so, I am dubious that it is because of breastfeeding alone. More to do with the wierdo products that babies are weaned on when their bodies are incapable of absorbing iron from as well as they can breastmilk because let's face it the no. of exbf babies at 6 months is very tiny indeed.

IMO (not health professional) baby led weaning is the way forward because you can not wean a baby who is not ready for it. With DD 1 I weaned (BLW) at 6 months having only breastfed. In retrospect I think she was ready for it earlier.

DD2 I weaned at 5 mths and 1 wk because she was sitting up independently, reaching out for things and putting them to her mouth. Her first meal of steamed brocolli went in as was apparent in her nappy the next day.

All this second guessing as to whether baby is ready to be weaned is so stressful. If left to their own devices babies are very clever at knowing what they need!

Anaemia (if your baby gets it) isn't fatal (except in the most extreme of cases which would probably go hand in hand with the mother also having extremely low iron levels during pg) but an infection on the other hand......

Plus, I was under the impression that if a baby was anaemic you would feed naturally high iron containing foods with high Vit C foods to the baby (e.g. steak and potatoes or broccoli) whilst continuing to bf.

yeah sorry my wording was wrong, they said that the advice could be reexamined.

But the fact that it has made it onto the NHS page means that people will be regarding the new information as advice.

but my questions is more what are people's personal opinions about the new information.

headfairy, the NHS says you know your baby is ready for solids before 6 months if they're able to sit unsupported, taking an interest in food and are able to pick up and taste finger food (ie able to do BLW, like medoitmama said). The recommendations are here.