WHO recommendations on breastfeeding?

WHO Recommendations on Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is widely recognized as the optimal method for providing infants with the essential nutrients they need for healthy growth and development. The World Health Organization (WHO) emphasizes that virtually all mothers can successfully breastfeed, given they receive accurate information and robust support from their families, healthcare systems, and society at large.
Exclusive Breastfeeding for Infants
The cornerstone of WHO’s recommendations is the advocacy for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. This means that infants should receive only breast milk, with no additional foods or fluids, except for vitamin D supplements, unless medically indicated . This practice is crucial as breast milk contains all the necessary nutrients that infants require during this critical period of growth.
Continued Breastfeeding with Complementary Foods
Following the initial six months, WHO recommends that breastfeeding should continue alongside the introduction of appropriate complementary foods. This dual approach should ideally extend up to two years or beyond, as it supports both the nutritional needs of the child and the health of the mother. The continuation of breastfeeding during this period is linked to numerous health benefits, including protection against common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia.
Health Benefits for Mother and Child
The health advantages of breastfeeding are profound. For infants, breast milk not only provides essential nutrients but also offers immunological protection, reducing the risk of infections and chronic conditions later in life. For mothers, breastfeeding can contribute to better postpartum recovery and may lower the risk of certain diseases, including breast and ovarian cancers.
Supportive Environments for Breastfeeding
To facilitate successful breastfeeding practices, WHO and UNICEF have developed a ten-step guidance aimed at health facilities that provide maternity and newborn services. This guidance is designed to enhance support for breastfeeding, ensuring that mothers receive the necessary assistance and education to initiate and maintain breastfeeding. The overarching goal is to create an environment where breastfeeding is not only encouraged but actively supported, thereby improving child survival rates and promoting healthy growth and development.
In conclusion, the WHO’s recommendations on breastfeeding underscore its critical role in child health and maternal well-being. By advocating for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months and continued breastfeeding with complementary foods thereafter, WHO aims to foster healthier generations and reduce infant mortality rates globally.

When did WHO recommend exclusive breastfeeding?

Introduction. In 2001, the WHO recommended exclusive breastfeeding (EBF) for the first 6 mo of life (EBF-6), replacing its previous recommendation of EBF for 4-6 mo (1, 2).

What are the World Health Organization recommendations for breastfeeding?

The World Health Organization recommends that: Breastfeeding be initiated within one hour of birth; Infants feed on nothing but breast milk for the first six months of life; Infants continue breastfeeding until at least the age of two; and.

What are the new guidelines 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 recommends breastfeeding for 2 years?

The American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization also recommend exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, with continued breastfeeding along with introducing appropriate complementary foods for up to 2 years of age or longer.

Why does WHO recommend breastfeeding for two 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.

At what age is breastfeeding no longer beneficial?

But Dr Max Davie, from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, says there is limited evidence of additional nutritional benefit beyond the age of two. “By the age of two, a child should get all the nutrients required through their diet so there is no additional benefit to breastfeeding over this age.”

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 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.

How long does the CDC recommend to breastfeed?

12 months
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months. Then, continue breastfeeding until your child is 12 months or older while introducing appropriate complementary foods.

Is it OK to exclusively breastfeed for 2 years?

AAP recommends that moms breastfeed exclusively for the baby’s first six months and introduce other appropriate foods at that point. Moms can continue breastfeeding until the child turns 2 or even beyond if desired.