Questioning an age-old advice given to new mothers, British researchers claim that it is not definitely sure that breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months is good for an infant's health.

Notably, it was about a decade ago that the World Health Organization had advised new mothers to exclusively breastfed their babies at least for the first six months after their birth. This World Health Organization recommendation was based on a review of 16 studies.

According to the research team, which was led by a paediatrician from London's University College, those infants who were only breastfed could face the risk of suffering from iron deficiency and may be susceptible to allergies.

The latest study suggests that babies could be fed on solid food as early as they grow four months old. The recommendation, however, has not gone down well with other experts in the field, who have advised the new mothers to follow the old guidelines.

"Many Western countries, including 65% of European member states and the United States, elected not to follow this recommendation fully, or at all", the authors contradicting the British research said. They said that the infants who were only breastfed for the first six months reported lesser infections and also witnessed better growth.