The present guidlines for weaning of infants stands at 6 months of age. If we go back around 10 years - the Indian Academy of Paediatrics recommended weaning at 4 months of age.The present guidelines were based on presumption that Ideal food for infants is exclusive breast feeding and in villages and in poor population this is the most economical and hygienic way of feeding the child. But in the present era - working mothers specially in urban areas exclusive breastfeeding of infants is for a very small period.
The top milk or supplementary feeding is introduced on two pretexts - working mother are made to feel on wrong assumption that early bottle feeding if not introduced at an early stage will be counter productive because later on child will not accept it. If it is a caeserian delivery - the child is introduce bottel feeding on the day one. Some times it is the paramedical staff who…
