The department of health changed its weaning advice from 4 months to 6 months in December 2003 to come in line with the world health organisation. It is my belief that children shouldn't been weaned until they are at least 6 months of age. Research has shown that babies’ digestive systems are very slow to develop and the enzymes that are required to digest food do not develop until the baby is 6 months old. Babies also have very thin gut lining and if a baby is weaned before the enzymes are present, undigested food could seep through the intestinal lining and enter the blood putting your baby at an increased risk of developing allergies, intolerance's and other such problems, such as a weaker immune system. After 6 months, babies make their own secretory IgA, which coats the intestine and stops the absorption of foreign substances through the intestinal mucous. At this age babies also develop the reflex of sucking and chewing simultaneous which will help them taste the food.
As published in South Wales Evening Post