Wanted to write this to reassure mums that exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months is fine, given the number of articles recently written criticising 6 months exclusive breastfeeding.
Formula fed infants are more likely to be iron deficient than breastfed babies. I am currently reading Gabrielle Palmer’s book ‘Complimentary feeding: Nutrition, Culture and politics’. She points out that low iron stores are caused by clamping the cord too early, (I would add in prematurity – not enough time to lay down iron stores). Also she points out that cereal foods are low in iron and are more of a breastmilk substitute than complimentary food. Haven’t finished the book yet, but she points out that just as children walk at different ages so they will be ready to eat at different ages – look out for baby reaching for food. Also Gabrielle Palmer is a nutritionist and she points out that nutrition is an inexact science. Something else not mentioned in the articles criticising 6 months exclusive breastfeeding is that too much iron is dangerous too, so supplementing all babies with iron is dangerous. Basically a wide variety of foods offered to baby from about 6 months is still best thing to do. Babies exclusively breastfed until 6 months are certainly getting a much healthier start, both physically and emotionally, than the vast majority of babies in the UK and Ireland.
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