**Madoka Inoue \* and Colin W. Binns**

School of Public Health and Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, GPO Box U1987 Perth, Western Australia 6845, Australia; E-Mail: C.Binns@curtin.edu.au

**\*** Author to whom correspondence should be addressed; E-Mail: madoka.inoue@curtin.edu.au; Tel.: +61-8-9266-1661; Fax: +61-8-9266-2958.

*Received: 17 November 2013; in revised form: 20 December 2013 / Accepted: 24 December 2013 / Published: 6 January 2014*

**Abstract:** For infants' optimal growth and development, the introduction of nutritionally suitable solid foods at the appropriate time is essential. However, less attention has been paid to this stage of infant life when compared with studies on breastfeeding initiation and duration. The practice of introducing solid foods, including the types of foods given to infants, in the Asia Pacific region was reviewed. In total nine studies using the same questionnaire on infant feeding practices were analysed to gain a better understanding of trends in the introduction of solid foods in this region. All studies showed less than optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding indicating an earlier time of introduction of solid foods than recommended by the WHO. Most mothers commonly used rice or rice products as the first feed. In many studies, the timing of introducing solid foods was associated with breastfeeding duration. Compared with the Recommended Nutrient Intakes for infants aged above six months, rice/rice products are of lower energy density and have insufficient micronutrients unless they have been fortified. Although the timing of introducing solid foods to infants is important in terms of preventing later health problems, the quality of the foods should also be considered. Recommendations to improve the introduction of solid foods include measures to discourage prelacteal feeding, facilitating breastfeeding education and providing better information on healthier food choices for infants.

**Keywords:** complementary foods; infants; Asia pacific region; infant feeding practices

### **1. Introduction**

Appropriate nutrient intake, in quantity, bioavailability, and timing in infancy are essential for optimal growth and development. Exclusive breastfeeding for six months and then the introduction of nutritious complimentary or solid foods, while breastfeeding continues, contributes to the prevention of acute and chronic diseases in early and later life [1]. Most reviews have concluded that "exclusive breastfeeding" for the first six months of life provides sufficient nutrients for infants for around six months, and then appropriate "complementary foods" should be introduced with continued breastfeeding, preferably until around two years of age or longer [2–4]. Both breastfed and infant formula fed infants should be introduced to safe and nutritious "complementary foods" at around six months to prevent retardation of growth and to minimize the risk of nutrient deficiencies [5].

"Complementary foods" are defined as foods other than breastmilk, infant formula or follow-on formula given to infants and these can be liquids, semi-liquids, and solids [6]. When these foods, particularly solid foods, are introduced to infants, textures should be changed as appropriate to the age of infants to give a variety of textural experiences. It is widely believed that foods with a pureed texture should be the first solid foods introduced [7]. "Solid foods" can be defined as non-drinkable food made by the food industry or by the family [8]. Complementary foods must also be nutritionally adequate and provide the bioavailable nutrients required, in combination with breastmilk, to meet all needs for growth and optimal health [4]. Since the nutrients in breastmilk are generally more bioavailable than from other sources, breastmilk remains an important component of nutrition after the introduction of solids. The term, "weaning" is often used to describe the infants who start taking solid foods [9] but "weaning" usually indicates a transition period or process from breastmilk or infant formula to solid foods [7]. It often refers to different events in different cultures and so it will not be used in this paper.

The timing of the introduction of solid foods is important because the early introduction of solid foods to infants by definition results in a shorter duration of "exclusive breastfeeding", which in turn increases the risk of morbidity. Several studies have found that the early introduction of solid foods before six months of age has been associated with an increased risk of diarrheal disease or gastro-intestinal infection in infancy [10,11], food allergies [12], and overweight or higher Body Mass Index (BMI) in childhood [13]. The early introduction of solid foods may also change the composition of gastro-intestinal bacteria, the microbiome, which has implications for health [14–16]. In contrast, the late introduction of solid foods (after six months of age) predisposes to micronutrient deficiencies including iron and zinc status, which affect cognitive and neurological development [17,18] and may lead to other problems, including feeding difficulties [19].

In the most recent guidelines for infant feeding launched by the WHO/UNICEF in 2003, the introduction of solid foods to infants is recommended at six months of age (180 days) [20] but other international organizations recommendations may differ slightly from the WHO recommendation. The nutrition committee of the European Society for Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition (ESPGHAN), recommended that the introduction of solid foods should not be commenced before 17 weeks of age and not later than 26 weeks of age. [21]. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) stated that solid foods should not be commenced before six months of age [22]. Despite the WHO recommendations, many mothers have tended to introduce solid foods to their infants before six months. A cohort study of 401 mothers in Ireland found that the median age of introducing solid foods to infants was 16 weeks (interquartile range = 14–17.7), while 22.6% of the mothers introduced solid foods to their infants before 12 weeks postpartum [7]. In a British study (*n* = 604), the median age of introducing solid foods reported by the mothers was 15 weeks (interquartile range = 13–16), despite the national government recommendation to start solid foods for infants from six months of age [11].

In the Asia Pacific region, the recommended timing for the introduction of solid foods for infants varies between countries. For instance, in China, the Ministry of Health formerly recommended the introduction of solid foods to infants after four months of age (16 weeks), but more recently they have changed to six months of age [23]. In Australia, the National Health and Medical Research Council Infant Feeding Guidelines state that "solid foods" should be commenced at around six months of age [4]. The introduction of solid foods to infants is influenced by many cultural factors and traditional beliefs. For example, in Japan, a traditional ceremony is usually held at 100 days after birth and this ceremony was the time when mothers started to introduce additional liquid foods, including fruit juice and vegetable soup. Although the recent guidelines state that it is not necessary to provide any liquids other than breastmilk before six months, the ceremony still remains as a traditional custom in Japan. While changes in duration and exclusivity of breastfeeding have been extensively researched, less is known about how the patterns of infant feeding, including introducing solid foods, are changing and how these changes relate to differences in cultural practices between countries. The aim of this study was to review the timing of the introduction of solid foods in the Asia Pacific region by comparing and contrasting previous studies that used the same questionnaires and to describe the types of foods that are introduced.

#### **2. Methods**

#### *2.1. Study Details and Descriptions of Sample Recruitments*

Nine studies (five countries) undertaken by Curtin University, School of Public Health, of infant feeding practices conducted in the Asia Pacific region were reviewed including data on the first introduction of solid foods to infants. The recruitment process of the samples in each study has been published in detail elsewhere [24–30]. In Australia, the Perth Infant Feeding Study I (PIFS I) was undertaken to obtain information about infant feeding practices and provide information to assist in developing the Infant Feeding Guidelines and was repeated a decade later as the Perth Infant Feeding Study II (PIFS II). The questionnaires and methodology developed for these initial studies were then used in a similar way in other countries allowing for comparisons to be made. All of the Australian mothers in these studies were recruited in hospitals after birth. The Vietnamese mothers were recruited after giving birth in hospital, in community health centres, or at their home. In the two Chinese studies, all mothers were recruited at either hospitals or health centres as birthing at home is uncommon in this country. The mothers in the Zhejiang study were recruited from a city (Hangzhou), suburban, and rural areas. The Maldivian mothers were recruited at clinics associated with hospitals, the Japanese mothers were recruited at community health centres when they came for health examinations of their infants at 18 months of age and one study of mothers who have migrated to Australia used community samples recruited using "snowball" techniques. In the seven cohort studies the mothers were asked to complete an initial questionnaire on their infant feeding practices while in hospital and were then followed up at regular intervals for six months. Similar questionnaires were used in all of the studies and the three cross-sectional studies have been included in this review. The mothers in the Maldives study are representative of a conservative Islamic society, while the other countries are generally representative of Asia Pacific cultures.
