Maintain pressure on reforms to protect NHSWarning issued over baby nutrition
Biscuits and cakes are being fed to babies who are only a few weeks old when their diet should only consist of breast milk, research has claimed.
By the time they reach six months, some babies have been fed fruit juice, cakes and biscuits by almost one in four mothers, an Australian study shows.
Babies as young as four weeks old are being given sugary, salty and fatty foods, it was revealed.
This contradicts international guidelines which state that for the first six months babies should only be getting breast milk.
Such an early introduction to poor diets might have long-term harmful effects and make young children pre-disposed to obesity, it is claimed.
Scientists from the Department of Nutrition and Dietetics at Flinders University in Adelaide, Australia, conducted regular phone interviews of 587 new mothers over a period of 12 months.
Lead researcher Dr Jane Scott said: “Almost one in four mothers had introduced fruit juice, biscuits and cakes to their infants by six months of age.
“This is a worry because eating habits developed early in life usually continue throughout a person’s lifetime - and an overweight child is much more likely to become an overweight adult.”
Babies who were started early on solids had a greater chance of eating foods with a high fat, sugar and salt content by their first birthday. The same was true for those with two or more siblings.
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Readers' comments (3)
Anonymous | 8-Sep-2010 1:46 pm
Given the lack of support for breast feeding from midwives [not all!], paediatric nurses and consultants the concept of breast only for 6 months is frankly laughable - albeit a worthy goal.
Chav culture is taking over it seems....
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Anonymous | 9-Sep-2010 8:09 am
Maybe someone can point me to the current research (not opinion) on this. I actually work with families where the baby is not sleeping well. In Australia I think you'll find the guidelines are now 4 months - not six months. Having said that it seems clear in my experience of about 10 years that depending on the genetic background of the baby and Mum's breast milk - 'Gold Top' or 'Skimmer' the baby may or may not be really hungry at 6 months and in fact earlier - Dad tall, big guys Mum's side. Breast milk is fantastic for the first 6 months, keep it rolling I say, but the baby may need more than just breast milk within that time. As long as the menu is OK. No biscuits, coke, pizza salt oils etc - before or after the 6 months of breast milk. This is uncontroversial - don't do it. But, where is the problem with mixed veg, pumpkin, carrot, apple, pear and some carbs like potato,rice, pasta? Education about what is OK to feed the baby is needed here in the context of good nutritional food and introducing it when the baby needs it.
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Anonymous | 9-Sep-2010 9:10 am
It is an Australian study and this extract tells us nothing of the details of the demographic studied, i.e social class, cultural practices. The guidelines here are 6 months but not before 17 weeks and if mums wish to wean before 6 months they should hopefully have discussed this with their HV (if they can access her these days)
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