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Its not just the WHO recommending 6mths, its also the National Medical & Health Research Centre (Aust govt). The cynic in me noticed that The Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy are sponsored by formula companies so wonder (even though they say they're independant) if there was any influence in the wording of their recommendations.
My MCHN (not officially but off the record told me cos she is 'meant' to follow WHO.) and dr both recommended starting my little girl at 4 months. Millie was more than ready by then and loooooooooves her food. From what they said, new research shows that waiting can cause more allergies and there is more kids with allergies now than ever before after the 6 month rule was introduced.
I think each baby will tell you when they are ready.
I think it's interesting that some medical practioners make those sorts of claims about increases in allergy rates. Although we have a 6-month recommendation, the fact is that very few parents actually wait till 6+ months, so I'm not really sure that we've proven anything, you know? The other factor of course is breastfeeding - allergy rates are higher when babies have formula, and I suspect this is as big a reason for rising allergy rates as the timing of first solids.
I personally believe that its up to each parent when they start their babies on solids and nobody should judge them or critisize them. I'm not saying that giving a baby solids the moment they come home from hospital is a good idea, but if parents think their 4/5 month old are ready then that is up to them. I don't like the idea of starting DD on solids in a month but i want her first to be on christmas but thats if she is ready.
KM, I don't think anyone is judging or criticising parents (maybe big companies but not parents ;) ). The posters are simply providing information to help parents make their own decision.
Mrs Hendo, I agree with Marcellus. The fact that allergy rates are rising despite the recommendation being for solids to start at 6 months is used a lot as an argument for lowering the age. However, less than 10% of babies get to the 6 month mark without having solids so this is a very flawed argument. In fact, the most significant rise in the rate of allergies was when the recommendation was younger and this is one of the reasons it was raised to 6 months!
Marcellus has also raised an interesting point about formula. The causes of the increasing allergy rate are complicated - there isn't just one factor. If there was it would be easier to fix. The age that solids are introduced is one of many factors thought to be contributing - and in fact the number one factor which seems to be related is the introduction of formula before 4 months. Leading allergists world wide attribute formula before 4 months to increasing the risk of food allergies by 50%. If money wasn't an influencing factor you'd expect the health professionals to be being educated about that as a way of reducing allergies rather than the questionable option of starting solids earlier. Other factors which studies have shown to contribute to the allergy risk are family history, c-sections, antibiotics during pg and having a cat at home.
It's the cats!
:rofl: I hadn't heard that one before. damn.
I haven't yet read all the responses so I apologise if I'm repeating anyone. For us, the question on when to start to solids isn't just regarding allergies. Our Moo was no where near ready for solid food at 4 months old, he was barely interested at 6 months! He couldn't sit up til he was almost 7 months and I thought that was meant to be a big factor in starting solids? Regardless, he was just not interested in food at 4 months old.
mantaray- oh no i wasnt saying anyone was lol i just meant in general, my bad! :p