What is the WHO recommendation for breastfeeding?

WHO Recommendations for Breastfeeding
The World Health Organization (WHO) has established comprehensive guidelines aimed at promoting breastfeeding as a vital component of infant nutrition and maternal health. These recommendations are grounded in extensive research highlighting the numerous benefits of breastfeeding for both infants and mothers.
Exclusive Breastfeeding for the First Six Months
The WHO strongly advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of an infant’s life. This means that infants should receive only breast milk, with no additional foods or liquids, including water, unless medically indicated. This practice is crucial as it provides all the necessary nutrients and antibodies that infants need for healthy growth and development during this critical period.
Initiation and Duration of Breastfeeding
The organization emphasizes the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth. This early start not only helps establish a strong breastfeeding relationship but also enhances the infant’s chances of survival and health. Following the initial six months of exclusive breastfeeding, the WHO recommends that breastfeeding continue alongside the introduction of nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods. This transition should ideally occur at around six months, with continued breastfeeding recommended for up to two years or beyond .
Support and Education
To facilitate successful breastfeeding, the WHO underscores the need for support from families, healthcare systems, and society. It is essential that mothers receive accurate information and encouragement to overcome potential challenges associated with breastfeeding. The WHO also advocates for practices such as rooming-in, where mothers and infants stay together in the same room, and responsive feeding, which fosters a nurturing environment for both mother and child.
Conclusion
In summary, the WHO’s recommendations for breastfeeding are clear and focused on promoting the health of both infants and mothers. By encouraging exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by continued breastfeeding with appropriate complementary foods, the WHO aims to improve child survival rates and enhance overall health outcomes. These guidelines serve as a vital resource for healthcare providers and families alike, emphasizing the importance of breastfeeding as a cornerstone of child nutrition and development.

Why WHO recommends breastfeeding for 2 years?

Breastmilk provides all the energy and nutrients that the infant needs for the first months of life, and it continues to provide up to half or more of a child’s nutritional needs during the second half of the first year, and up to one third during the second year of life.

What does the WHO recommend for breastfeeding?

WHO and UNICEF recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water. Infants should be breastfed on demand – that is as often as the child wants, day and night.

What is the 5 5 5 rule breastfeeding?

The Centers for Disease Control recently updated their recommendations on breast milk storage. Previously, many people followed the 5-5-5 rule: storing breast milk for five hours at room temperature, five days in the refrigerator, and five months in the freezer.

What are the current recommendations for breastfeeding?

How long should infants be breastfed? Exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months is recommended. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends continued breastfeeding while introducing appropriate complementary foods until children are 12 months or older.

WHO recommended breastfeeding period?

The World Health Organization recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed for 6 months, then gradually introduced to appropriate foods after 6 months while continuing to breastfeed for 2 years or beyond. Stopping breastfeeding is called weaning.

Does the WHO recommend breastfeeding?

WHO and UNICEF recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water. Infants should be breastfed on demand – that is as often as the child wants, day and night.

WHO recommends breastfeeding until age 2?

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for approximately 6 months after birth. Furthermore, the AAP supports continued breastfeeding, along with appropriate complementary foods introduced at about 6 months, as long as mutually desired by mother and child for 2 years or beyond.

What is the theme for World Breastfeeding Week 2024?

Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all
World Breastfeeding Week is held in the first week of August every year. The theme for 2024 is Closing the gap: Breastfeeding support for all.

How long does the WHO recommend breastfeeding?

WHO and UNICEF recommend: early initiation of breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth; exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months of life; and. introduction of nutritionally-adequate and safe complementary (solid) foods at 6 months together with continued breastfeeding up to 2 years of age or beyond.

WHO recommendations for baby feeding?

Caregivers should take active care in the feeding of infants by being responsive to the child’s clues for hunger and also encouraging the child to eat. WHO recommends that infants start receiving complementary foods at 6 months of age in addition to breast milk.