My reply to a query from Organix...

[colditz]

()

Hi there *,

Thank you for your mail concerning the recommended age for weaning by
the WHO.

We do adhere to their guidelines and whilst they have said from 6
months
they have also confirmed to us that it could happen any time between 4
to 6 months so we are still allowed to say this on our foods. If you
look at competitor products like Heinz, Hipp and Cow and Gate they are
doing the same.

The reasons they have directed us to do this is because many babies are
ready to wean before 6 months of age and parents are frustrated that
they have to wait until 6 months of age to feed their hungry babies.

The coin is two-sided. We will always follow guidelines and
legislation
and have always done so. We have had it confirmed that we are able to
say in our literature that Health Professionals recommend that weaning
shouldn't take place before 6 months so if you want to start the
process
sooner than this you need to consult a Health Professional.

We are following guidelines and we have had confirmation that we can
say
this on our packaging. When and if that situation changes of course we
will change it according to what we are told and guided to do by the
government and health professionals.

We are always very open and honest within our communications and will
always adhere to rules and regulations concerning babyfoods and
otherwise.

I am sorry that you feel disappointed but I do hope this has helped
answer some of your concerns.

Kind Regards
Marie Van Hagen
Brand/Customer Service Manager

What do you all think? I think Hunker will be interested in this reply, as she is known to get rabid on the subject

but readiness for solids is mainly connected to enzyme production - apprently the enzymes needed for adequately digesting solids aren't fully present until around 6 months. This kind of 'milestone' does not vary in the same way developmental milestones vary.

From \link{http://www.who.int/nutrition/topics/infantfeeding_recommendation/en/index.html\Here on the WHO site}

(1) "Exclusive breastfeeding" is defined as no other food or drink, not even water, except breast milk for at least 4 and if possible 6 months of life, but allows the infant to receive drops and syrups (vitamins, minerals and medicines).

ooo soupy - I was scouring the WHO website for that earlier I knew I'd seen a mention of 4-6 months on there before.

Mind you still doesn't say when bottlefed babies should be weaned - it's all "breastfed exclusively for 6 months then weaned".....

Of course gut marturity is different but it's still not going to magically kick in when every child reaches 6 months of age is it? It's "around" 6 months. Some will be ready earlier, some later.

I'm not saying the guidelines are wrong, just that they're guidelines not rigid hard and fast "your child will be ready for weaning at 6 months, not a minute earlier not a minute later" rule.

the WHO sit is a blimmin nightmare to find anything on BTW.

especially given that a baby can be considered 'full term' anything from 38-42 weeks.........so presuming the baby is born at 38 weeks, does that mean they have to wait another 4 weeks to wean as they won't (theoretically) be 6 months yet?

QOQ , I'm sure I read somewhere that the research iro bottlefed infants was less conclusive but the recommendation to wean from around 6 months remained the same. No idea wher eI read it (something NCT probably)

just read their policy and it does seem to be about developing countries.

it also states that it may not be possiblt to wait until 6 months and that parents should be supported in the introduction of other food sources.

it does NOT mention gut maturity anywhere

The \link{http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/code_english.pdf\WHO guide thingy to breastmilk substitutes} mentions 4-6 months for introducing complementary foods too, on P6

not that it really makes a difference to me now - I weaned both of mine at 4 months.....so to late to worry now .

And DS1 (5) yesterday told me "you can't have another baby because you've already had lots".

"The sample sizes were insufficient, however, to rule out an increased risk of growth faltering in infants who are exclusively breastfed for 6 months"

it says that in developing countries the most important advantage of bf for 6 months was protection against gasdtro-intestical infection.. but no mention of gut maturity per se

it says also
"In addition, the available data are insufficient to exclude several other potential risks associated with exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months, including growth faltering and other micronutrient deficiencies"

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR PRACTICE

"The expert consultation recognizes that some mothers will be unable to, or choose not to, follow this recommendation; they should be supported to optimize their infants' nutrition"

at the end it also says that

"there are several unanswered questions that are important for policy-making with regard to defining the optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding and maximising its benefits"

ie... they haven't researched fully so may change their minds! lol
their recommendations for research include a comparison of exclusive bf and partial bf from 4-6 months (this HAS NOT been done yet!!!!)

there was a report done about 10 years ago that said 4-6 monhs Committee on Medical Aspects of Food Policy or some such thing. has that been superseeded then? everything i read/hear says 4-6 months. including advice from HV. i started at 5 months & was advised no meat based protein 'till 6.

Still loathe the "my baby was ready for solids at 3m" stuff though like it's a sign of maturity and they were sitting up with napkins tucked in at neck and perusing a fecking menu, trying to decide between steak and chips and salmon pasta. No, they were propped up having wallpaper paste shovelled into their mouths by mad overly competitive mothers.

I would expect gut maturity to vary just as much as, say, weight- there's going to be a lot of variation in timing of development of enzymes from one individual to another. I think that's why I've always been so surprised that it's described in such rigid terms (sorry hunker :()

well sorry - HM - but my DS2 was definitely "Ready" for solids at 4 months. Infact so was DS1, both were on 3 meals a day within 2 weeks and loving it (just wish I could stop them eating now - I cook for about 6 people in this house even though there's only 4 of us - dread to think how much my grocery bill's are going to be in 10yr time if this is how much they eat now ).

hurrah, another weaning age bunfight.

I think tamum is right - some babies are ready sooner than others. The who is not infallible. but lol at the idea of them sitting up with napkins!

by "ready" though, I mean really ready, not able to open mouth.

what does happen to babies weaned before 6 months anyway?

gross generalisation HM

SP - what does happen to them........well IME they start eating male teenager quanities before they're 6 lol.

Yes, a gross generalisation. But also what I've observed, so not wholly without basis in fact.

HM - quite agree that competitiveness over this issue would be daft and dangerous. Have personally never come across it, though. I had a conversation with other mums in the doctors waiting room about this when we went for our four month jabs and we were all feeling a bit guilty and embarrassed that we were considering weaning so early. I think if anyone had said, 'Oh, mine isn't nearly ready yet' they'd have been the smug one. If people I know are competing about anything it's about how long they were able to hold out.

from what I garnered from WHO report the guidelines say 6 mnths because that is beneficial to the baby and mother... NOT because doing it beforehand will cause damage... if that makes sense?

sorry, but find it hard to believe that mothers would wean early for the sole reason of one upmanship...& no regard for their babies.

There've even been posts on here from mums desperate to get onto the next stage with their babies and getting upset because their baby pushes the spoon out of their mouth, so hard to believe though it might be, it definitely happens.

I agree with Starlover - these are guidelines we're talking about, not the law. I reckon it would be more beneficial trying to educate HV better in this area (I have heard of one HV in my area who merrily advocates starting babies off on chicken).

i had opposite problem... ds LOVED the spoon! lol
couldn't get enough of food. I had to limit him so he didn't take too much