British researchers say weaning as early as four months has benefits

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Discussion Overview

The discussion revolves around the timing of introducing solid foods to infants, particularly in light of a study suggesting benefits to weaning as early as four months. Participants share personal experiences and opinions regarding breastfeeding and the introduction of solid foods, exploring the implications for health and dietary preferences.

Discussion Character

  • Debate/contested
  • Anecdotal evidence
  • Conceptual clarification

Main Points Raised

  • Some participants express strong disagreement with the idea of weaning at four months, citing personal anecdotes of their children thriving on extended breastfeeding.
  • One participant emphasizes the importance of continuing breast milk or formula while introducing solids, suggesting that a sudden stop at four months would be unwise.
  • Another participant shares their experience of being bottle-fed and questions the sufficiency of evidence linking early weaning to long-term health outcomes.
  • There is mention of the potential impact of introducing bitter tastes early on, which may influence children's acceptance of vegetables and overall health outcomes.
  • One participant reflects on their own parenting experience, suggesting that early introduction of a variety of foods may have contributed to their children's preference for vegetables.

Areas of Agreement / Disagreement

Participants generally disagree on the recommendations for weaning, with multiple competing views presented regarding the timing and approach to introducing solid foods. No consensus is reached on the best practices for infant feeding.

Contextual Notes

Participants rely on personal anecdotes rather than empirical data, and there is a lack of consensus on the implications of early weaning for long-term health and dietary preferences.

mugaliens
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http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41071734/ns/health" .

I very strongly disagree. My son is both healthy as a horse, and far more brilliant than I'll ever be. He was breast fed for 18 months.
 
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mugaliens said:
I very strongly disagree. My son is both healthy as a horse, and far more brilliant than I'll ever be. He was breast fed for 18 months.

That's an anecdote, not data.
 
mugaliens said:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41071734/ns/health" .

I very strongly disagree. My son is both healthy as a horse, and far more brilliant than I'll ever be. He was breast fed for 18 months.
I hope you mean that his diet was supplemented with breast milk until age 18 months, not that he was only given breastmilk. Babies should have solids introduced into their diets between 4-6 months, with the breast milk or formula continued for awhile.

I'm hoping this article doesn't actually mean to stop supplementing breast milk or formula cold turkey at 4 months of age, that would be unwise, IMO.

Continue feeding your baby breast milk or formula as usual. Then:

Start with baby cereal

http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/healthy-baby/PR00029
 
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mugaliens said:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/41071734/ns/health" .

I very strongly disagree. My son is both healthy as a horse, and far more brilliant than I'll ever be. He was breast fed for 18 months.

Anecdotal the other way; I was bottle fed--Couldn't tell you last time I was sick or took a sick day, Don't know how smart I am, I'd reckon fairly smart :smile:

Breast milk can certainly be important early on for immune function. I don't think the "later in life" evidence is sufficient to place any bets as of yet. What's probably much more important for "long term health" is that you follow your nose when you pick your mate, helping to ensure a nice mix of immune functionality.
 
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Another interesting anecdote in response to:

The study also noted that keeping to the six months recommendation could "reduce the window for introducing new tastes," Sky News reported.

"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," the report said, quoting the study

Interestingly I was just talking about this the other day in my clinical reasoning group when we were discussing parents getting their children to eat veggies, that both of my boys love veggies. Specifically broccoli, while I was on break from school we went to a Max and Erma's and my youngest (3, almost 4 years old) got the kids corndog meal with the broccoli side. He ate all the broccoli (non-buttered or salted) and about half the junky corndog.

They were both bottle fed as well so my wife could get back to school and work. We started them off "kind-of" early on baby foods and with both we varied the foods a lot (not just the sweat stuff that babies eat easy).

Here all this time I thought it was my awesome persuasive prowess as a Dad, now come to find out my kinds just might like veggies so much cause we "weaned" them early and introduced them to veggies early on! :)
 

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