So is she eating "real food" yet?

People ask this question fairly often now, and while I know it is asked with good intentions, I can't help but grimace on the inside. Laurel is still exclusively breastfed and will be until she is at least six months old. This is a decision based on recommendations from the following organizations:

  • World Health Organization
  • UNICEF
  • US Department of Health & Human Services
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • American Dietetic Association

Yet, most people seem to think that breastmilk isn't "real food" and that it won't sustain a baby past three or four months. Every family has to look at the research and do what works for their family, but here are the reasons that we are delaying solids. (Most of this information comes from http://www.kellymom.com/ and http://www.askdrsears.com/)

Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.

Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown.

Delaying solids gives baby's digestive system time to mature.

If solids are started before a baby's system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy.

Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies. (particularly important to us because both Tim and I have some food allergies)

It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies. From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream. This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also.

Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.

The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood.

Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.

Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby's diet - they do not add to baby's total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.

Delaying solids allow babies to lose the tongue-thrust reflex.

In the first four months the tongue thrust reflex protects the infant against choking. When any unusual substance is placed on the tongue, it automatically protrudes outward rather than back. Between four and six months this reflex gradually diminishes, giving the glob of cereal a fighting chance of making it from the tongue to the tummy.

These are some of the reasons that we will be waiting until Laurel is at least six months old to try solid foods.

3 comments:

Meg said...

Good for you. You have to do what you have to do. Everyone is different. I wish I had been able to breastfeed longer.

To each his own right? I wish people would learn to accept that people do things differently.

You're a great mommy Sarah.

Sarah said...

Thanks Meg! It's so hard sometimes when you hear 238439 different opinions about how you should raise your child, but at the end of the day you really just have to answer to your child, your spouse and your God.

You're a great mommy, too :)

chris said...

I am so glad to see you speak of the "open gut" I was going to start my March 7th baby on rice cereal two weeks ago..but then read the kelly.com article and starting researching. THe rice cereal has yet to be open. I wrote a similar article last week. www.lifeboatbaby.com
it's on my home page...after the scalding of breasmilk.

I like your site!!

Thursday, July 9, 2009

So is she eating "real food" yet?

People ask this question fairly often now, and while I know it is asked with good intentions, I can't help but grimace on the inside. Laurel is still exclusively breastfed and will be until she is at least six months old. This is a decision based on recommendations from the following organizations:

  • World Health Organization
  • UNICEF
  • US Department of Health & Human Services
  • American Academy of Pediatrics
  • American Academy of Family Physicians
  • American Dietetic Association

Yet, most people seem to think that breastmilk isn't "real food" and that it won't sustain a baby past three or four months. Every family has to look at the research and do what works for their family, but here are the reasons that we are delaying solids. (Most of this information comes from http://www.kellymom.com/ and http://www.askdrsears.com/)

Delaying solids gives baby greater protection from illness.

Although babies continue to receive many immunities from breastmilk for as long as they nurse, the greatest immunity occurs while a baby is exclusively breastfed. Breastmilk contains 50+ known immune factors, and probably many more that are still unknown.

Delaying solids gives baby's digestive system time to mature.

If solids are started before a baby's system is ready to handle them, they are poorly digested and may cause unpleasant reactions (digestive upset, gas, constipation, etc.). Protein digestion is incomplete in infancy.

Delaying solids decreases the risk of food allergies. (particularly important to us because both Tim and I have some food allergies)

It is well documented that prolonged exclusive breastfeeding results in a lower incidence of food allergies. From birth until somewhere between four and six months of age, babies possess what is often referred to as an "open gut." This means that the spaces between the cells of the small intestines will readily allow intact macromolecules, including whole proteins and pathogens, to pass directly into the bloodstream. This is great for your breastfed baby as it allows beneficial antibodies in breastmilk to pass more directly into baby's bloodstream, but it also means that large proteins from other foods (which may predispose baby to allergies) and disease-causing pathogens can pass right through, too. During baby's first 4-6 months, while the gut is still "open," antibodies (sIgA) from breastmilk coat baby's digestive tract and provide passive immunity, reducing the likelihood of illness and allergic reactions before gut closure occurs. Baby starts producing these antibodies on his own at around 6 months, and gut closure should have occurred by this time also.

Delaying solids helps to protect baby from future obesity.

The early introduction of solids is associated with increased body fat and weight in childhood.

Delaying solids helps mom to maintain her milk supply.

Studies have shown that for a young baby solids replace milk in a baby's diet - they do not add to baby's total intake. The more solids that baby eats, the less milk he takes from mom, and less milk taken from mom means less milk production. Babies who eat lots of solids or who start solids early tend to wean prematurely.

Delaying solids allow babies to lose the tongue-thrust reflex.

In the first four months the tongue thrust reflex protects the infant against choking. When any unusual substance is placed on the tongue, it automatically protrudes outward rather than back. Between four and six months this reflex gradually diminishes, giving the glob of cereal a fighting chance of making it from the tongue to the tummy.

These are some of the reasons that we will be waiting until Laurel is at least six months old to try solid foods.

3 comments:

Meg said...

Good for you. You have to do what you have to do. Everyone is different. I wish I had been able to breastfeed longer.

To each his own right? I wish people would learn to accept that people do things differently.

You're a great mommy Sarah.

Sarah said...

Thanks Meg! It's so hard sometimes when you hear 238439 different opinions about how you should raise your child, but at the end of the day you really just have to answer to your child, your spouse and your God.

You're a great mommy, too :)

chris said...

I am so glad to see you speak of the "open gut" I was going to start my March 7th baby on rice cereal two weeks ago..but then read the kelly.com article and starting researching. THe rice cereal has yet to be open. I wrote a similar article last week. www.lifeboatbaby.com
it's on my home page...after the scalding of breasmilk.

I like your site!!

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