title: Commentary on a Cochrane Review of Early Additional Food and Fluids for Healthy Breastfed Full-Term Infants.
abstract: The World Health Organization recommends that infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life. A Cochrane Review assessed the benefits and harms of additional foods and fluids for full-term healthy breastfed infants. The review included randomized or quasirandomized controlled trials of full-term healthy breastfed infants up to the age of 6 months. Six studies met the inclusion criteria. Trials from early days after birth did not indicate that giving additional fluids was beneficial. Trials with 4- to 6-month-old infants did not indicate any benefit to supplementing with food at 4 months. This review did not find any evidence for disagreement with the recommendation that exclusive breastfeeding should be recommended for 6 months after birth.
authors: Kate
authors: K
authors: Maslin
mesh_terms: D001942:Breast Feeding; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cochrane Review; exclusive breastfeeding; infant feeding; supplemental fluids