how long can you exclusively breast feed for?

But many parents EBF up to a year without introducing any solids and have no
problems.

I know the AAP said no more than 6 months, but I don't recall WHO saying
that... but then, my brain is a bit scattered today :-)

"Hillary Israeli" wrote in message
...
In ,
teapot wrote:

*Its the Moo boys big day - 6 months old today and the carrot is on to
*steam!
*
*I just wondered if anyone knew how long you can EBF for without the
*baby missing out on anything.

The WHO recommends no longer than 6 mos.

--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large

Mom2Aries wrote:

But many parents EBF up to a year without introducing any solids and have no
problems.

I know the AAP said no more than 6 months, but I don't recall WHO saying
that...

http://www.who.int/gb/EB_WHA/PDF/WHA54/ea54id4.pdf

However they emphasise that this is a population recommendation, not an
individual one. They only looked at research comparing 4 months to 6
months; and they acknowledge the serious lack of decent research in this
area. As far as I know there has been no good systematic research on
durations of exclusive breastfeeding longer than six months. Empirically
though, I wouldn't do it without a haemoglobin & iron check, especially
in at-risk babies (low birth weight, early cord clamping, etc).

Lara

In ,
Lara wrote:

*durations of exclusive breastfeeding longer than six months. Empirically
*though, I wouldn't do it without a haemoglobin & iron check, especially
*in at-risk babies (low birth weight, early cord clamping, etc).

Right. And the OP wanted to know how long it is ok to do without the baby
missing out on anything. I responded with the WHO recommendation of six
months. Seems pretty straightforward, really.
--
hillary israeli vmd http://www.hillary.net
"uber vaccae in quattuor partes divisum est."
not-so-newly minted veterinarian-at-large