New growth charts

Did you know that the WHO (that's the international health organization, not the rock band) has come out with new growth charts? It seems the old charts were based mostly on formula-fed babies, while these used breastfed babies as the norm.

Here's La Leche League International's press release on the topic:

La Leche League International Commends the World
Health Organization on Publication of New Child Growth Standards

(Schaumburg, IL) April 27, 2006­La Leche League
International (LLLI) welcomes the establishment
of new Child Growth Standards based on the
breastfed infant as the normative model of how
children should grow and develop.

The new World Health Organization (WHO) Child
Growth Standards, using a world-wide sample of
over 8,000 children, demonstrate that
environmental differences, rather than genetics,
are the main determinant of disparities in
physical growth and development. The new charts
will be an invaluable tool for parents and
healthcare providers as a way of detecting
under-nutrition, overweight and obesity, and
other growth and nutrition-related conditions at
an early stage in a child’s life.

The premise of the study is that the gold
standard in infant nutrition is exclusive
breastfeeding for the first six months and
continued breastfeeding after the introduction of
appropriate complementary foods. In research for
the new WHO Child Growth Standards, mothers from
Brazil, Ghana, India, Norway, Oman and the United
States were given the encouragement and education they needed to breastfeed.

While breastfeeding is natural, it is a learned
art and mothers need information and support.
LLLI meets these needs through a network of
mother-to-mother support group meetings,
telephone counseling, web site and email support, and publications.

Pregnant and breastfeeding mothers and their
babies are encouraged to attend LLLI meetings.
Topics discussed include childbirth, beginning
and continuing breastfeeding, nutrition and the
introduction of appropriate foods after six
months. For nearly 50 years, and now in over 60
countries around the globe, mothers gather at
monthly meetings with accredited LLLI Leaders for information and support.

For additional information about the
ground-breaking WHO Child Growth Standards,
breastfeeding, or a group in your area call
1-800-LA LECHE or visit the LLLI web site at www.lalecheleague.org.

You can look at the new charts at the WHO's website.