Are the WHO guidelines made for only 3rd world countries?

[sg784]

:

WHO guidelines such as....Breastfeeding for a minimum or 2 years, ABM being 4th best (from moms breast-1, from a bottle-2, human milk from another mom-3) and i forget, does the WHO have solid food introduction rec's?

Are their guidelines only pertaining to, or specifically aimed at, 3rd world countries where they don't have all the "luxuries" of such "advanced" health and medical practices?



I say, no, these guidelines are to the advantage of ANYbaby and especially important to those who are in 3rd world countries.

Thoughts?

[Ruthla]

I think the WHO guidelines are for all babies- but they're more essential in places without clean water and modern medical care.

A formula-fed American baby is unlikely to die from a GI infection due to contaminated water, or to be underfed because the family can't afford to buy enough formula. However, that baby is at much higher risk of severe illness, requiring hospitalization, than a naturally fed baby living in similar circumstances.

[wagamama]

This is an issue that really bothers me, actually. When people ask me why I'm still bf-ing my 18-month-old (and they ask all the time!), I say because WHO recommends bf-ing until age 2. And then they say, "but that's only for developing countries". :

[PatioGardener]

Fortunately the WHO guidelines are for all babies. The WHO doesn't discriminate against rich babies or babies born in developed countries. Those babies are also entitled to the nutrition, immune support and cognitive development that comes from following the WHO guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, followed by on-going breastfeeding until at least aged 2 years, with addition of appropriate, nutritious foods.

ETA: That's both my serious and sarcastic answer to anyone who claims the WHO recs are for poor countries only.

[isabchi]

Well, Diabetes type II, leukemia, obesity and many other are illness from industrialized countries. The WHO mark of 2 yo. is to protect from that illness as well.

[SpiderMum]

I think they apply to ALL children...but I've had people try to tell me it's only for 3rd world countries too. And 2-years is just a MINIMUM...it amazes me the stuff people come up with.

[SophieAnn]

Originally Posted by PatioGardener

Fortunately the WHO guidelines are for all babies. The WHO doesn't discriminate against rich babies or babies born in developed countries. Those babies are also entitled to the nutrition, immune support and cognitive development that comes from following the WHO guidelines of exclusive breastfeeding until 6 months, followed by on-going breastfeeding until at least aged 2 years, with addition of appropriate, nutritious foods.

ETA: That's both my serious and sarcastic answer to anyone who claims the WHO recs are for poor countries only.

I love this!

It's boggling that ppl seem to genuinely thing the WHO guidelines don't apply to developed nations. It's the World Health Organization, not the 3rd World Health Organization!

[FraggleLover]

http://www.who.int/nutrition/publica...O_NHD_00.1/en/

This website has a pdf file called "Complementary feeding: family foods for breastfed children" which you can download and read.

It describes how to incorporate solid food into your breastfed baby's diet.

http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_.../en/index.html
You can find information for non-breastfed babies here.

I did not find a "3rd world only" disclaimer

PS These guidelines suggest spoodfeeding

[siobhang]

WORLD HEALTH Organization guidelines are for the world, unless explicitly stated for specific demographics/situations. They mention that breastfeeding protects against both common developing country (GI infections, etc) AND developed/industrialized country ailments (diabetes, obesity, cancers).

And the Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative (a WHO/Unicef pro-breastfeeding program) is actively expanded and supported in developed countries.

Check out the Innocenti Declaration which made the global statement about the importance of breastfeeding.
http://www.unicef.org/programme/brea.../innocenti.htm

All governments should develop national breastfeeding policies and set appropriate national targets for the 1990s. They should establish a national system for monitoring the attainment of their targets, and they should develop indicators such as the prevalence of exclusively breastfed infants at discharge from maternity services, and the prevalence of exclusively breastfed infants at four months of age.

(bolding mine)

[AislinCarys]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but I remember reading that WHO used a number of countries in the studies that are behind their breastfeeding recommendations and their weight chart - including Norway and Ireland!

I've been planning on saying something like: "Oh, really, Ireland is in the third world. Interesting!" or "Aha, Norway is in Africa. You learn something new every day!".