Question: Dear Docs, My daughter has just turned 6 months, our clinic doc advised on introducing solids but my MIL is determined to have us try avoiding solids for a whole 2 years as a of friend of hers did just that and appears to have a healthy child. So my question is…how important is introducing solids at this age for growth and development? I would so appreciate some advice that would help convince my MIL that BM is not enough after 6 months.
Answer: You mean breastmilk only for the whole 2 years? My advice is that to be very careful with anecdotal reports from friends and relative. While breastmilk is great , it doesnt contain enough calories and nutrients to be the sole contributor for growth after 6 months. The child needs more calories and nutrients to support his body needs.After 6 months , the child wld start sitting, crawling , standing and running, milk would not be able to meet the increasing demand. It will compromise the weight and height , plus the brain development. The brain needs enough nutrients to grow esp in d first 3 years .And it will pose yr child to iron deficiency anaemia , meaning the red blood or Hemoglobin will gradually become low. Many babies who have have not been eating well (let alone not eating at all) hv come for low iron which in d long run will affect concentration n learning skills. My patients hv come with hemohlobin as low as 5 !! (Normal 12-13 !!!) . A low hb will cause rapid heart rate, fatigue and in worse case scenario heart failure. A definite no! If she insist, see a paediatrician and have a face to face conversation. It’s easier to convince a person that way.