Exclusive breastfeeding for six months
When complementary foods are introduced too early:
· There is no growth advantage for the majority of infants,
· There is a displacement of highly nutritious and immunologically active breastmilk,
· There is interference with the bioavailablity of key nutrients such as iron and zinc,
· There is a reduction in the amount of breastmilk a mother produces,
· There is a reduction in the duration of breastfeeding,
· There is a greater risk of illness and death related to acute respiratory infections and diarrheal disease,
· There is a reduction in the time of return to maternal fertility.
Some references:
Bhandari, N. et al. Lack of significant impact of food supplementation and
nutrition counseling: are morbidity control measures currently needed? In Dewey,
K. G., Approaches for improving complementary feeding for infants and young
children. Draft paper presented at the Technical Consultation on Infant and
Young Child Feeding, WHO, Geneva, March 13-17, 2000
Brown, K. H. Dewey, K. G., Allen, L. H. Complementary feeding of young
children in developing countries: a review of current scientific knowledge.
Geneva, WHO/NUT/98.1
Victora, C. Impact of breastfeeding on admission for pneumonia during
postnatal period in
Brazil: nested case-controlled study.
BMJ 318: 1316-1320, 1999
Cohen, R. J. Brown, K. H., Canahuati, J. et al. Effects of age of
introduction of complementary foods on infant breastmilk intake, total energy
intake, and growth: a randomized intervention study in
Honduras.
Lancer 334: 228-293, 1994
Cohen, R. J., Brown, K. H., Canahuati, J. et al. Determinants of growth from
birth to 12 months among breast-fed Honduran infants in relation to age of
introduction of complementary foods. Pediatrics 96: 504-510, 1995
Dewey, K. G., Cohen, R. J., Canahuati, J., Brown, K. H. Effects of age of
introduction of complementary foods to breast-fed infants on duration of
lactational amenorrhea in Honduran women. Am J. Clin Nutr 65: 1403-1409,
1997
Dewey, K. G., Cohen, R. J. Brown, K. H., Rivera, L. L.
Age of introduction of
complementary foods to low birth weight breastfed infants: a randomized
intervention study in
Honduras.
Am J Clin Nut 69: 679-686, 1999
Greiner, T. The Concept of Weaning: Definitions and their implications. J
Hum Lact 12:123-128, 1996
Naylor, A. Statement Regarding the Duration of Exclusive Breastfeeding,
signed by participants at the WHO Technical Consultation on Infant and Young
Child Feeding. Geneva, March 13-17, 2000
Wang, Y. S. Wu, S. Y. The Efect of Exclusive Breastfeeding on Development and
Incidence of Infections in Infants. J Hum Lact 12: 27-30, 1996 