Infants depend on provision of such foods by carers
(Humphrey, 2010).
The transition to family food is also charged with emotion since
it marks an important social achievement i.e. readiness of the
infant to join the family at mealtimes. Mothers are encouraged to
enjoy this process, not to rush it and to respond to the needs of
their babies. They are offered guidance on the ‘‘when, what and
how’’ in infant feeding (Schwartz, Scholtens et al., 2011).
The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding and the timing
of solid food introduction have been subject to debate (Fewtrell et
al., 2010; Reilly & Wells, 2005), with recommendations ranging
from ‘‘not before 17 weeks and not later than 26 weeks’’ (Agostoni
et al., 2008, p 99) to ‘‘after the age of 6 months, never before the age
of 4 months’’ (WHO, 2001, 2003) (see Schwartz, Scholtens et al.,
2011; for a review of selected international and national feeding
guidelines). In practice, a review of 113 ethnographical and
demographical reports from non-industrial societies back to 1873
showed that average age at introduction of non breast milk liquids
was around 4.5 months, of solids was 5 months and the duration of
breastfeeding was 29 months (Sellen, 2001). Prospective studies of
the timing of solid food introduction in industrialised countries
reveal the tendency for mothers to introduce solid foods before
Government sanctioned guidelines