WHO recommended breastfeeding age?

WHO Recommendations on Breastfeeding
The World Health Organization (WHO) provides clear guidelines regarding breastfeeding, emphasizing its critical role in infant nutrition and health. According to WHO recommendations, exclusive breastfeeding is advised for the first six months of a baby’s life. During this period, infants should receive only breast milk, which supplies all the necessary nutrients and hydration they need for healthy growth and development.
Complementary Feeding and Continued Breastfeeding
After the initial six months, the WHO suggests that complementary foods should be introduced to meet the evolving nutritional needs of the growing infant. However, breastfeeding should continue alongside these new foods. The organization recommends that breastfeeding should ideally continue for up to two years or beyond, as long as it is mutually desired by both the mother and the child.
This extended breastfeeding period is crucial as it not only provides essential nutrients but also offers emotional support and strengthens the bond between mother and child. The WHO highlights that breast milk remains an important source of energy and nutrients for children aged 6 to 23 months, reinforcing the importance of maintaining breastfeeding even after the introduction of solid foods.
Conclusion
In summary, the WHO advocates for exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, followed by the introduction of complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed for at least two years. This approach is designed to ensure that infants receive optimal nutrition during their critical early development stages, promoting better health outcomes both in infancy and later in 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.”

WHO recommends breastfeeding until what age?

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.

How long do Japanese mothers breastfeed?

The mothers in all three countries actually stopped breastfeeding much earlier (6.15, 4.58, and 7.46 months in average for Japanese, French, and American samples, respectively) than their reported ideal time (11.71, 7.27, and 11.42 months).

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.

What is the cut off age for breastfeeding?

The AAP recommends mothers breastfeed until 12 months. After 12 months, they recommend continued nursing “as long as you and your baby desire it”. The AAP does not recommend an upper age limit for weaning from breastfeeding.

What are the CDC recommendations for breastfeeding age?

Breastfeeding. The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans [PDF-30.6MB] recommend that infants be exclusively breastfed for about the first 6 months, and then continuing breastfeeding while introducing appropriate complementary foods until your child is 12 months old or older.

What is the world’s average age for breastfeeding?

While 71% of women continue to breastfeed their infant for at least one year, by two years of age, breastfeeding rates decline to 45%.

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.

Why does WHO recommend 2 years of breastfeeding?

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.

WHO guidelines for baby feeding?

WHO recommends that infants start receiving complementary foods at 6 months of age in addition to breast milk. Initially, they should receive complementary foods 2–3 times a day between 6–8 months and increase to 3–4 times daily between 9–11 months and 12–24 months.