London: New mothers have been told to breastfeed their babies for six months only to prevent allergies, food aversion and even obesity but now research says babies can be safely given solid foods at least eight weeks earlier.
Researchers have questioned guidelines issued in 2001 by the World Health Organisation, asking women to breastfeed for the first six months before giving solid foods to babies, the Daily Mail reported, citing the British Medical Journal.
Based on WHO 'global recommendations,' the aim was to help children worldwide avoid allergies and gastroenteritis.
But experts led by a paediatrician from University College London's Institute of Child Health now claim the policy may actually have increased the risk of babies suffering allergies and iron deficiency.
Besides, it could deter children from eating foods with bitter tastes that are good for them, fuelling the rise in obesity.
Janet Fyle, policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, however, said changing official advice would be a retrograde step that "plays into the hands of the baby food industry".
She said there was "irrefutable evidence" that breast milk confers many health benefits on babies that last a lifetime.
But other breastfeeding specialists welcomed the "common sense" findings that many mothers instinctively follow despite feeling guilty about ignoring official advice.
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