Is ’breast only’ for first six months best?

Current guidance advising mothers in the UK to exclusively breast feed for the first six months of their baby's life is being questioned in a new study published today in the British Medical Journal. The authors, led by Dr Mary Fewtrell (UCL Institute of Child Health) have reviewed the evidence behind the current guidance and say the time is right to reappraise this recommendation. The researchers stress that while they fully back exclusive breast feeding early in life, they are concerned that exclusively doing so for six months and not introducing other foods may not always be in the child's best interests. In 2001 the World Health Organisation (WHO) made its global recommendation that infants should be exclusively breast fed for the first six months. Many western countries did not follow this recommendation but in 2003 the UK health minister announced that the UK would comply. Fewtrell and colleagues support six months exclusive breast feeding in less developed countries where access to clean water and safe weaning foods is limited and there is a high risk of infant death and illness. However they have reservations about whether the WHO's guidance about when to introduce other foods is right for the UK.