PAA

Child health experts in Britain have reignited the debate over whether mothers should exclusively breastfeed their babies for the first six months, suggesting it could make children more prone to allergies.

British health chiefs have insisted that breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs up to six months, but the British experts, led by a paediatrician from University College London's Institute of Child Health, say research has found "no compelling evidence" to not introduce solids at four to six months.

The World Health Organisation announced a global recommendation in 2001 that infants should be exclusively breastfed for six months.

"Many western countries, including 65 per cent of European member states and the United States, elected not to follow this recommendation fully, or at all," the British experts said in a report published in the British Medical Journal on Friday.

"However, in 2003 the health minister announced that the United Kingdom would comply."

UK guidelines say women should breastfeed for six months before introducing solids, and Australian guidelines similarly recommend exclusive breastfeeding of babies until six months, with solid foods introduced around six months and continued breastfeeding until 12 months.

The WHO recommendation "rested largely" on a review of 16 studies, including seven from developing countries, the British experts said.

It concluded that babies just given breast milk for six months had fewer infections and experienced no growth problems.

But another review of 33 studies found "no compelling evidence" to not introduce solids at four to six months, the experts said.

Some studies have also shown breastfeeding for six months does not give babies all the nutrition they need.

One US study from 2007 found babies exclusively breastfed for six months were more likely to develop anaemia than those introduced to solids at four to six months.

There was also the issue of allergies, the experts said.

Researchers in Sweden also found the incidence of early onset coeliac disease increased after a recommendation to delay introduction of gluten until age six months, "and it fell to previous levels after the recommendation reverted to four months".

The report authors said exclusively breastfeeding for six months was a good recommendation for developing countries, which have higher death rates from infection.

But in the UK, it could lead to some adverse health outcomes and may "reduce the window for introducing new tastes".

"Bitter tastes, in particular, may be important in the later acceptance of green leafy vegetables, which may potentially affect later food preferences with influence on health outcomes such as obesity."

A spokeswoman for Britain's Department of Health said: "Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs up to six months of age and we recommend exclusive breastfeeding for this time.

"Mothers who wish to introduce solids before six months should always talk to health professionals first.

"The Department of Health will review this research alongside all emerging evidence on infant feeding.

"We have asked the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition to undertake a review of infant feeding, which is expected to report later this year."

Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I really must challenge the suggestion from the review that the UK should reconsider its current advice on exclusive breastfeeding for six months.

"I believe that this is a retrograde step and plays into the hands of the baby food industry which has failed to support the six-month exclusive breastfeeding policy in the UK.

"The argument often advanced that the six months policy is best suited to developing countries is not strictly true.

"There is evidence that some babies do die in developed countries from inappropriate young child feeding, such as the introduction of solid foods earlier before their swallowing mechanism is mature enough or they have fully developed the capability to cope with solid foods."

Nifa McLaughlin, editor of gurgle.com, said: "It's no wonder that new parents everywhere are sick with worry as to the best way to feed their baby.

"Quite simply, there is no consistency in the research on this subject.

"Every week there is something new suggesting that breastfeeding is either beneficial or harmful; this conflicting advice means that parents feel undue pressure and confusion, the last thing they need with a new baby."