Dietitian Hanan Saleh claims breastfeeding makes babies crave sugar

A dietitian has come under fire for claiming breastfeeding makes babies crave sugar.

Sydney paediatric dietitian Hanan Saleh suggested breast milk sets up a taste preference from birth – meaning babies would develop a sweet tooth.

The piece was originally published on 9Coach.

Ms Saleh has now revealed to Daily Mail Australia she believed she was misunderstood.

‘I’m a mother of four and breast fed them all and still am breastfeeding my youngest,’ she told Daily Mail Australia.

‘There is strong evidence of a multitude of goodness from breastfeeding our young, including obesity prevention.

‘The interviewer unfortunately misunderstood my statement and has used this to open her article.’

Sydney paediatric dietitian Hanan Saleh (pictured right) received backlash for claiming breastfeeding makes babies crave sugar

Her comments comes after Ms Saleh claimed in the article babies who are exposed to sweetness from breast milk and formula from an early age will crave the taste.

‘This sweet liquid makes babies feel comforted and happy,’ she told 9Coach.

‘Warm feelings are created from a young age and that continues on into childhood.’

The report then suggested babies have about 30,000 tastebuds – three times as many as adults – so anything they consume is a ‘taste explosion’. 

Lactation consultant and baby care author Pinky McKay slammed the report as ‘bulls***’

Australian lactation consultant and baby care author Pinky McKay slammed the original report as ‘bulls***’.

‘All those warm sweet feelings are helping that child with their and brain development,’ Pinky told Kidspot.

‘It is a scary thing to be saying to mothers. You have the choice of what you feed your children. They will love the warm sweet milk, but this doesn’t mean they will only eat sweet foods.’

She revealed all five of her now-grown up children were all breastfed at birth and none of them have any tooth decay.

Ms McKay said if mothers eat a good, healthy diet, their babies will follow suit.

Lactation consultant Virginia Thorley said human milk provides children with a lot of taste experiences so they get a wider preference for foods in later life.