Inconsistent advice has confused parents and caused some to delay the transition from milk to solids, dietician Kate Di Prima says.
The National Health and Medical Council's dietary guidelines for children and adolescents in Australia state that ''exclusive breast-feeding until around six months should be the aim for every infant''.
But the Australasian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy believes more research is needed to determine the optimal time to start on solid foods. Evidence from Europe, Australia and the US recommends the introduction of solid foods no earlier than four months.
In 2008 the society revised advice that delays the introduction of solids or foods like shellfish, dairy and nuts which could reduce the risk of allergies and adverse food reactions. It now suggests there may be no benefits from delaying the introduction of these foods beyond six months.
''There are so many mixed messages from early childhood nurses to the local GP to women's magazines. It would be nice if we were all on the one page,'' says Di Prima, who is also an infant nutritionist and co-author of the guide to fussy eating, More Peas Please.
''Solids can be introduced with an infant's intake of milk from four to six months if a baby is breast feeding well and is thriving, and only then on the advice of a professional. After that we can texture up. I've seen mothers who were exclusively breast feeding their children at nine months.''
