BM 'not nutritionally adequate post 6months'??

[Tweetinat]

This should probably be on the weaning board but the question is actually about breast milk so...

Went to get DS (23w) weighed today as haven't done so since he was about 12w. Was asked if I'd started weaning to which I replied 'no- planning on waiting to at least 6m as lots of allergies and intolerances on DH side and then we'll probably move straight to finger foods and BLW'. Was quite surprised to be told that after 6 months breast milk is 'no longer nutritionally adequate' and that I will have to consider purees alongside finger foods to be sure that DS is getting appropriate food intake for calories etc.

Is this correct? Not what I thought at all - I was under impression that main calories still come from milk and that food at this age and possibly up to 9/10 months is not about satisfying hunger but about learning textures and tastes?

Be very interested in views :-)

Breast milk is massively high in fat. Veg purees aren't. Health visitors are absolutely obsessed with weaning, I think because it gives them a specific project to bother you about.

Weaning is also a most terrific faff, and worth putting off as long as possible.

Was this a HV by any chance? I'm planning on doing exactly the same as you at six months. BLW can take ages so main calories from BM. There's something about iron past six months, not sure off the top of my head what. Most HV don't subscribe to BLW, in my experience, so will always suggest purees. Check out the iron thing and do what you think's best for you and your babe. Good luck!

of course BM is nutritionally adequate

i am doing BLW and i would say that DD still gets 80% of her daily nutrition from BM at 6 momths old

i think iron starts to deplete but doesn't disappear overnight so as long as you introduce iron rich foods (like broccoli and apricots) etc for your LO to chew on all should be ok

Thanks for the replies and reassurance that my HV is talking crap sadly misguided :-)

Will check out the book hana - I've found a couple of forums that have given me the basic starting points, but it would be good to know more about the theory.

I totally agree mother - I'm naturally very lazy so wanted to do something that was both good for my baby and easy for me

Yes is was Adamsmam - quite surprised as normally she's been quite good. Good luck with the BLW too

Just to give the other side of the 'debate' - I went to see a doctor about weaning as DS had silent reflux. She is a paed dietician and explained that the whole weaning before 6 months argument, directly contradicts the government trying to promote bf till at least 6 months. The problems, therefore, are that babies can become iron deficient because bm/formula does not contain sufficient/complete, digestible iron sources which have mostly depleted BY 6 months. If at 7/8 months they are only just starting to eat solids then they have had a fair amount of time without protein/iron. At least if you are offering purees (on the assumption that your LO is cooperating , then you know they are getting the right nutrients). The most digestible sources of iron come from animal protein and protein is essential for brain growth and development - vegetable/dairy protein is great, but it does not have all the amino acids required.

Additionally, there is research to suggest that not introducing some foodstuffs till late on can cause problems e.g. gluten witheld till after 7 months can lead to an increase in ceoliacs (sp?). There is an interesting article under ESPHGAN - Complimentary weaning (it is on google).

Having said all that, weaning is stressful, so I totally see the appeal for waiting as long as possible!

Well said addictedtofrazzles! Let the baby take the lead, follow the cues and use common sense and basic instincts!

Hi Ruby - yes, that is as I understood it - that iron starts to deplete after 6 months but can be provided through the diet at that point through iron rich foods. Of course, they don't always have great intake from day one of weaning but in most cases the stocks won't rapidly diminish before they are able to start properly 'eating' these foods.

Thanks for that link addicted and also offering a different perspective (frazzles are my crisp of choice too - in fact, I may have to eat a packet now!). I haven't the time to read the study in depth right now, but the google search did ping up other discussions on MNET which reference this so will have a look around. I also see what you mean about witholding foods can cause problems too and I don't have any intention of doing that - I just didn't want to introduce foodstuffs before 6m as my understanding was that the gut isn't mature enough to digest the food and DH has such a bad digestive system that I don't want to take a risk of inflicting the same on DS.

Total bollocks!!
Is best nutrition going.