Ministry of Health - Breastfeeding/Solids
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Topic: Ministry of Health - Breastfeeding/Solids
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Subject: Ministry of Health - Breastfeeding/Solids
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 6:27pm
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Just saw on the news that the Ministry of Health has now changed their guidelines ...
They recommend babies be exclusively breastfed UNTIL 6 Months And not to introduce solids UNTIL 6 Months of Age as opposed to the original 4-6 month guidelines. They change their minds more often than most of us change our underwear ... But I do agree. Lucas didn't take solids properly until 9.5-10 months of age and he's thrived on breastmilk. |
Replies:
Posted By: mummy_becks
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 6:30pm
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They change their ideas all the time. I did see that it was going to be on the news but I don't watch the news so missed it. ------------- I was a puree feeder, forward facing, cot sleeping, pram pushing kind of Mum... and my kids survived! |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 6:35pm
| Well I remember after I had Lucas, Mum was perplexed as to why I was sleeping him on his back ...when she had me they were sleeping babies on their tummies, then 6 years later when she had my brother they were told to sleep them on their side. |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 7:40pm
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to be fair they had someone on later saying that it should also go on the baby(a Mum).. some babies just won't make it to 6 months:) they said they haven't changed anything since 2000.. dunno if that's true:) ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: monster
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 7:47pm
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That's just in line with the WHO's recommendations though, isn't it? -------------   
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Posted By: Peanut
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:34pm
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Yip, it is in line with WHO's recommendation. The thing I found funny was that plunket was fully supporting the idea etc and yet they are sponsored by watties who have 4-6 months on their cans and plunket has never argued that it wasn't in line with WHO. -------------  
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:35pm
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Oh no doubt most mothers will still go with their intuition regarding when baby is ready to start solids. I think it just means Plunket will have to go back to recommending 6 months up? ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Snickerdoodle
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:36pm
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What was the reasoning behind it?
(I missed the news tonight, bum!) ------------- 
http://lilypie.com">  
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:38pm
Here's the http://www.tv3.co.nz/News/Story/tabid/209/articleID/56624/cat/41/Default.aspx - link Charly  ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:42pm
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I was all excited watching it thinking it was going to be something good, but no just we what all aready knew.
With the solids thing I tried sooo hard to hold out until 6 months with Caprece but she was honestly waking every 1-2 hours for a good month so I started her on solids at 5 months and she wolfed it down. Same with Jack the very first day we started he had half a tin (at 4 months) so I think it is good to have the guidelines of not til 6 months but in reality its no biggy if they need it before. |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:46pm
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I agree RachandJack ...but I do think it is good that they have these guidelines in place as I've known a couple YOUNG mothers who have started feeding their kids porridge/cereals from as early as 4-8 weeks.
One female in particular, I witnessed her feeding bub when he was just 4 months old, she would ply him with a huge bowl full of food, this particular night I was there ...the kid choked on every spoonful. It was darn obvious he wasn't ready but she insisted he was and came out with all this bullsh*t to try and justify feeding him from 4 weeks of age. Their digestive system is simply not ready that young. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 8:51pm
 4 weeks
Thats so why guidelines are needed, I know a few young mums like that that just simply don't know any better. When they are told they get it but they just don't get told (probably doesn't help they don't take their babies to plunket or anything) |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 9:34pm
| It is only WHO "recommendations" so doesnt that mean it is recommended but ok if you cant do it! THere is no way I could have got Tom (the guts) to 6 months without solids. He thrived on them! As for BF, I got close! |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 10:19pm
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I was a baddie who started the week before Jack was 4 months, he seriously needed it aye he is such a guts, packs down anything given to him in a spoon and tries to steal my food from me.
There's also the thing about not starting babies too late either, as if they don't get started at 6 months they can lose the desire to ever start on solids (so I read on plunket site anyway) |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 10:40pm
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I guess I was just unlucky with my boy, he was showing all the signs near 5 months of age, and first off he was going okay with solids ...but he would have 'on' weeks and 'off' weeks (moreso off weeks) until he was around 10 months old. It's always been hit and miss with his mealtimes, despite introducing him early enough.
But in saying that, he has always thrived on breastmilk and is still feeding around 4-5times daily (Which I know is a lot for a 14 month old, but this is ON TOP OF his 3 meals and snacks now) ...if he wants it i'll give it to him. I'm very pro-breastfeeding (extended). He was weighed today and is 14.02kg - so very very healthy (always has been a good weight for his age)
ETA: I feel that if it wasn't for us breastfeeding, we would have had a lot more problems due to him not eating & he wouldn't have been anywhere near as healthy. ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 21 May 2008 at 10:49pm
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the guidelines will work.....once all babies are robots and are exactly the same.
some babies are hungrier than others, some can do with out it , some babies thrive on BM , some have difficulty -they all grow up into different adults, just like we did.....therefore they can't expect all babies to be the same |
Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 8:50am
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Do you know that WHO also reccomends breastfeeding your child to 2 years of age? Didn't see that on the news, though... I think they water it down for NZers kneejerk recations to being reccomended to BF in general.
The solids thing, if your baby is BF its not to much of a worry, as long as they are thriving and gaining weight as everythign baby needs is in BM, except they need more iron by 6 months. Eating is good for the development of speech, so that and the iron thing is the main concern for solids. I do agree though, (some) mums know best whats right for their baby, although I am not too sure about this 4 week rubbish. Charlotte started about 5.5 months but didn't really like it and has only really been eating well for about 5 months, and a variety for about 2 months, lol I never pushed her, though, she is still BF and although little is still healthy, although the Paed did say he would reconsider that if she hadn't gained much weight by our check in June, but she has put on almost a kg,so I'm sure she will be fine. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: ElfsMum
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 9:02am
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all they said was that 'extended ' bf was recommended ------------- Mum to two amazing boys! |
Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 9:33am
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I saw them say till 2 years and thought WHAT????? That is not going to suit everyone as I know lots of people who start to feel self concious BFing a larger baby (which they shouldnt but hey, thats society). It would also get hard for women returning to the workforce to maintain that!.
I take my hat off to those of you that are still Bfing after 12 mnths! I really hoped I would get to 12months but that just wasnt going to be realistic. howver the irony is not lost on me that around the time I stopped as I was struggling to keep up with his demand, I would have only needed to keep going a little longer before we would have started dropping feeds.  But we are all happier for the transition
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Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 9:39am
see that p*sses me off, she clearly has no blimming clue-and i bet she doesnt even bother trying to find out , i had a girl say a similar thing to me when i asked why she was feeding her baby so early , and then told her that her son's digestive system was too young for it etc, and she said "but i don't have anyone that can tell me that stuff like you have" and i was like "exCUSE me? i read , i ask people , eg midwife etc questions, go on the net , etc etc, when i decided to keep Caitlyn , i decided to actually learn about babies !" argh , why would you want to feed them that young anyway ?then you have to spend more money ! |
Mum2Lucas wrote:Posted By: peanut butter
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 9:47am
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I was adamant that I wouldnt be starting Tom on solids for as long as possible because it looked like hard work. likewise with formula feeding. popping the boob out seemed so easy. Imagine how mortified I was when the little bugger wanted solids shortly after 4 months
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Posted By: LJsmum
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 10:05am
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Someone i work with started her son on solids just before he was 3 months old. I couldn't believe it!!!
Crazy .! poor baby. Good on you mum2 lucas for breastfeeding i am still breastfeeding too about 3 -4 times a days mostly at night!! Which i have 2 stop as I work fulltime too. Breastfeeding is hard but worth it. Luke is healthly and well apart from annoying ear infections but that's another story.!! Luke didn't really take to soilds until 7.5 - 8 months and now loves food and so exciting just got his first tooth. Well half of it is through!! -------------  
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Posted By: nikkitheknitter
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 10:15am
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Finally the MOH catches up!
I think more emphasis could have been placed on extended breastfeeding... someone has to voice it. I think 2 years (and beyond) is totally achievable, even if you do work. A 2 year old doesn't need to be fed like a newborn. It'd be whenever you chose/they chose to feed. I am not saying that extended breastfeeding is for everyone but I do think that there should be a mind shift away from thinking that it is 'wrong' to breastfeed a toddler. (I don't mean anyone here... just in general) And disclaimer: I finished breastfeeding at 13 months. I didn't advocate extended breastfeeding back then, in fact I thought it was the domain of hippies  I've done a lot more reading and been exposed to a lot more parents who do encourage it and my mind has been changed.
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Posted By: fattartsrock
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 10:26am
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Im planning on feeding to 2 and then I'll see.... I always thought it was fo rhippies as well, but hehehe im so not a hippie.
the thing is, someone, NZpiper maybe? can't remember, said about people being uncomfortable feeding or seeing a bigger baby being fed, and thats true, thing here is if more people did it, it would be "the norm" and people wouldn't see it as different. I'm still feeding Charlotte, but she is small, so people don't tend to "look" as it were. Plus, the thing with extended BF is that toddlys don't feed like babies (I think Nikki already said that) they might come up for a drink a few times a day and just have a quick feed to slake the thirst, or they might only feed at bedtimes and inthe morning or maybe even just at night? Trust me, you aren't glued to the couch for an hour each time, lol. ------------- The Honest Un PC Parent of 2, usually stuck in the naughty corner! :P |
Posted By: scarecrowfarm
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 10:29am
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I agree that the closer to six months the better, but I also recognise that it doesn't work for all babies.
I think it's stupid though to be starting solids at a really young age (i.e. 4 weeks as posted above). It's like the woman I heard about recently who was forward facing her baby's carseat by 4 months despite regulations saying 6 months is the earliest they should be forward facing, and recommendations that rear facing should be done as long as possible. i.e. as long as it's safe to be rear facing. Her excuse '4 months is close enough to 6 months that it doesn't matter'. She knew, but she didn't care. Some people don't care, others care but need educating. ------------- Robyn www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 11:29am
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I'm intending on breastfeeding up until 2 years at the least, I will continue breastfeeding until Lucas doesn't want it anymore (within reason of course). I flop them out wherever, whenever. I'm all for extended breastfeeding ...and on demand. It's an informed decision I made when I became a parent. I am so grateful we have been able to go for this long.
People do give me strange looks when I'm breastfeeding in public, but that is THEIR problem. Lucas is big for his age and I'm small for mine LOL ..does look a little ridiculous. But I do ask friends that I am with etc before I flop my boob out. Last thing I want to do is make them feel uncomfortable. Scarecrowfarm you are onto something there, I had a friend who did the same thing (re: changing carseat to forward facing). They used the excuse that baby was sitting up early therefore could apparently sit forward facing in a carseat. I think i changed Lucas around at 9-10months. Also I think thats why guidelines are good, when it was 4-6 months to start solids ...people would be more inclined to start baby at 4 months (because that's when 'everyone else' starts their kids) ...and you'd have the mothers who would go earlier than four months because 'it's close enough to the 4 month mark'. Now that it's 6 months hopefully mothers will hold off on solids for as long as possible (until their kids really are ready and showing signs). As for the girl I know who started her boy on solids at 4 weeks, she claimed he NEEDED it because he wasn't sleeping through the night ..he needed to fill his tummy up and apparently Formula wasn't doing this(and supposedly bubs father was fed solids from an early age). She was also very anti-breastfeeding. Something about the concept of it being disgusting because baby is intruding on her personal space (whereas I think most of us would agree that it is the most natural and selfless thing any mother can do for their child?) Hmm can't remember the other thing I was going to say... ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Rachael21
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 11:30am
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I would of liked to see more on extended bfing too, not for me but for everyone else watching. I have had quite a few comments about how sick I was to bf Jack past 6 months I've learnt my lesson now and I don't tell them how long I plan to bf for.
The thing that annoys me if I try and give the reasons why I plan to breastfeed so long they think I'm attacking them about formula when they started it 
Anyway I have a lot thicker skin this time round and I'll bf anywhere I don't really care what people think and will continue to do this as long as I bf. |
Posted By: emz
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 11:38am
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You got attacked for wanting to bf past 6 months? Seriously? You can't win now: 'breast is best' then 'ew thats gross they're too old'.
I have an issue with it when they're grown ups: 'bitty' from Little Britain anyone? 
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Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 11:38am
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Thats good to hear rachandjack. I hate how people think they have the right to judge our parenting decisions.
I get quite the opposite most of the time, especially from older women etc. When they ask if Lucas is breastfed & I say yes they are really supportive & encouraging. But I have had A LOT of FF mums trying to convince me that Lucas should go onto formula re: not sleeping through the night. 'It will fill his tummy and sustain him for longer'... After a while I decided NOT to complain that he wasn't sleeping through the night, I'd far rather continue breastfeeding ...even if it means I have to wake 2-3 times a night to BF Lucas. But hey in saying that my boy slept through 8 hours without a feed last nite (first time woohoo)------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: BuzzyBee
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 11:40am
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LOL Emz ....sometimes I call it 'bitty'.
Lucas is just as bad as that guy on Little Britain, he walks up to me and pulls my top down when he wants 'bitty' hehe ------------- Single Mum to a darling wee boy of 3 years :) |
Posted By: Mum2ET
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:07pm
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Woohoo- go Lucas for sleeping 8 hrs (sorry a bit off topic) I am still b/f Ella and have now decided to just carry on b/f until she decides to self wearn. I never planned to be still b/f it just happened and I feel very lucky that we have been able to continue. And Yes I do get looks/comments from people when they are ask if i am STILL b/f and and when I plan on wearning her, but I have learnt to ignore them.........if it is working for both of us why stop????? It does seem like you can't win with some people.... as for solids I started Ella when she was 4 1/2 months and haven't had any problems with allegeries etc....BUT it definitely didn't help her sleeping at night and I think in hindsight I probably could have waiting a bit longer and for future babies I would try and wait until at least 5 months (if not 6). ------------- Mum to Ella (5) and Tom (2) |
Posted By: caitlynsmygirl
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:10pm
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hehe i remember when C was about 8 months, she had been having a nap with me on my bed and i fell asleep and woke up to find that she'd pulled my top up and was having a feed, very strange thing to wake up to but so cute, and one of my favourite memories of her
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:11pm
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They said breastfeeding for a year is what they will be pushing as well as solids after 6 mths.
All i have to say is advise parents but dont knock them if they chose otherwise. Both me and DP were fed solids from 8ish weeks and we are both fine also me and my sis were breastfed and our youngest sister was formula fed yet those of us breastfed were sicker so there is both theories blown out of the water. I agree 4 weeks for solids is too early thats why there are signs you are advised you should look for to know when a baby is ready to start and that is what should be pushed rather than an age as everyone says all babies are different. In the end we are the mothers and the majority of us will make the decisions best for our children taking into consideration the information we have been given. I know they say these are going to be just recommendations but the reason im so fired up over this is the plunket nurse i have asked me at josh's 3 mths check if i had considered giving josh solids the way she asked me i thought she was going to suggest i should start them as josh is a very big boy. I said i didnt want to until he showed hungry signs and would probably be around 5mth otherwise as i as seen the watties 4-6mth jars then she blasted me and lectured me on how before 6mths was too early and that all the guidelines were going to be changes as well as all the labels on the jars and that i was under no circumstances to start him on solids before 6mths. I brought 2 jars on my way home from that visit because i was so angry with how i had just been treated (i didnt use them until just on 4 mths as josh was showing all the hungry signs not to try and fill him up he was already sleeping through) -------------   
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Posted By: WRXnKids
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:13pm
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Sorry my post wasnt suppose to seem so angry i just get so worked up about it because of how my plunket nurse treated me even the look she gave me when i said i formula feed and the way she said Why??
I thought plunket was suppose to support and advise not belittle and force their ideas on you -------------
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Posted By: FionaS
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:15pm
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It's amazing how different peoples reactions are. I breastfed until just over 14months and at that time Elle stopped of her own accord and I had no discomfort what-so-ever so it was natural and easy for both of us. I found I had 100% support and if anything got judged more for stopping even though it was a natural thing for us and I was pleased to go for 14 months.
Elle wouldn't take solids until 7 months and wasn't really into it until 9/10. ------------- Mummy to Gabrielle and Ashley |
Posted By: scarecrowfarm
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 2:34pm
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I don't think people need to justify their reasons why they formula feed or breastfeed, or even how long they breastfeed for.
I get a lot of surprised looks now because I'm breastfeeding a 16 month old while pregnant. My mum keeps on telling me I should wean. Really it's nobody's business but the parents. I do think the closer to 6 months a child is before introducing solids, the better due to the reduction in allergies and food sensitivities, however there are often good reasons for introducing them earlier. I ended up introducing it at 5 months with Lucy. My friend introduced at 4 months, and boy was he a super hungry kid. He gobbled it all down and demanded more. At the end of the day the information needs to be available to parents, but the final choice needs to be left up to them, and they shouldn't be belittled for the choices they're making unless the child is clearly not benefiting from. Case in point, force feeding a 5 month old who is tongue thrusting and trying to refuse it indicates to me that child isn't ready for it yet. ------------- Robyn www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz |
Posted By: SMoody
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 3:42pm
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I was one of the moms that was totally going to wait the 6 months. Ha until this one at freaking just over 4 months grabbed a marsmallow easter egg out of my hand and swallowed it (before hand she was totally into seeing us eat and will almost drool)
Well pediatrician just said to give food to her and let her feed herself. We started off slowly. With extended breastfeeding well I am still breastfeeding her. Will do it in public if need be although we are down to a max of two feeds a day. When she get up or to to sleep at night and once during the day. I really get some bad comments and funny thing is most is from our family itself. (on Grants side.)They quickly keep their mouth shut when I give them my explanation. Feel free to use it. Do you agree that you have to give milk to a toddler? Off course they will say yes. Now why is it wrong for me to give my child milk made for her instead of milk from a cow made for calves? If they get smart I just follow with or is your problem with the "cup" or "bottle" the child drinks from? They seriously cant come back with a come back and wont bother even asking me again if I am still feeding her. I really am not phased if a mom breastfeed, formula feed ect. I really do feel moms (mostly anyway) do their best for their kids. My MIL wanted me to start this one on solids at like a week to get her to sleep through. Grant apparantly was eating curry at a month. Poor poor hubby. ------------- http://lilypie.com"> 
http://lilypie.com"> 
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Posted By: scarecrowfarm
Date Posted: 22 May 2008 at 8:05pm
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Oh my goodness, curry at one month. The things our generation lived through, lol. ------------- Robyn www.scarecrowfarm.co.nz |