Inconsistency in breastfeeding guidelines

We have read the article “Update on well-baby and well-child care from 0 to 5 years”¹ published in the December 2010 issue of Canadian Family Physician, which provided an overview of the 2009 edition of the Rourke Baby Record (RBR).

The College of Family Physicians of Canada’s policy statement on infant feeding states the following: “As a global public health recommendation, infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter … infants should receive safe complementary foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two years of age and beyond.”² The Canadian Paediatric Society states that “breast milk is the optimal food for infants, and breastfeeding may continue for up to two years and beyond.”³

Both the College and the Canadian Paediatric Society endorse the RBR. In order to remain consistent with their recommendations, we believe that breastfeeding should remain listed under “Nutrition” in the RBR at the 2 to 3 years visit.

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