WHO recommendations for breastfeeding mothers: basic principles of breastfeeding. WHO breastfeeding recommendations with explanations Feeding WHO

Undoubtedly, for infants, especially in the first months, the ideal food is mother's milk. It not only contains all the necessary nutrients, enzymes, hormones, protective factors, but is also easily digested and absorbed by the baby’s body. So it is very important to maintain breastfeeding for as long as possible. The “Global Strategy” for breastfeeding was jointly developed by WHO and UNICEF. Below are its basic principles.

1. Early breastfeeding - within the first hour after birth!
2. Avoid feeding the newborn with a bottle or other method before the mother attaches him to the breast. This is necessary so that the child does not develop a mindset for any other feeding than breastfeeding.
3. Joint maintenance of mother and child in the maternity hospital in the same ward.
4. Correct positioning of the baby at the breast allows the mother to avoid many problems and complications with the breast. If the mother was not taught this in the maternity hospital, she should invite a lactation consultant and learn this specifically.
5. Feeding on baby's demand. It is necessary to put the baby to the breast for any reason, to give him the opportunity to suckle when he wants and as much as he wants. This is important not only for satiating the child, but also for his psycho-emotional comfort. To feel comfortable, the baby can be attached to the breast up to 4 times per hour.
6. The duration of feeding is regulated by the child: do not take the baby off the breast before he releases the nipple!
7. Night feedings of the baby ensure stable lactation and will protect the woman from the next pregnancy for up to 6 months - in 96% of cases. In addition, it is night feedings that are the most complete and nutritious.
8. No additional soldering or introduction of any foreign liquids and products. If the baby is thirsty, he should be put to the breast more often.
9. Complete refusal of pacifiers, pacifiers and bottle feeding. If it is necessary to introduce complementary foods, it should be given only from a cup, spoon or pipette.
10. Transferring the baby to the second breast only when he has suckled the first breast. If the mother rushes to offer the baby the second breast, he will not receive additional “late milk” rich in fats. As a result, the baby may experience digestive problems: lactose intolerance, foamy stools. Prolonged sucking on one breast will ensure proper bowel function.
11. Avoid washing nipples before and after feeding. Frequent breast washing leads to the removal of the protective layer of fat from the areola and nipple, which leads to the formation of cracks. Breasts should be washed no more than once a day during a hygienic shower. If a woman showers less often, then in this case there is no need for additional breast washing.
12. Refusal from control weighings of the child, carried out more than once a week. This procedure does not provide objective information about the nutritional status of the infant. It only irritates the mother, leads to a decrease in lactation and the unreasonable introduction of supplementary feeding.
13. Elimination of additional milk expression. With properly organized breastfeeding, milk is produced exactly as much as the baby needs, so there is no need to pump after each feeding. Pumping is necessary in case of forced separation of mother and child, mother going to work, etc.
14. Only breastfeeding up to 6 months - the child does not need additional nutrition or complementary foods. According to some studies, a child can be exclusively breastfed for up to 1 year without harming his health.
15. Support for mothers who breastfed children up to 1-2 years of age. Communicating with women who have had positive experiences with breastfeeding helps a new mother gain confidence in her abilities and receive practical advice to help establish breastfeeding. Therefore, new mothers are advised to contact maternal breastfeeding support groups as early as possible.
16. Training in child care and breastfeeding techniques is necessary for a modern mother so that she can raise him up to 1 year without unnecessary hassle and comfort for herself and her baby. Lactation consultants will help you arrange care for your newborn and teach your mother breastfeeding techniques. The sooner a mother learns motherhood, the fewer disappointments and unpleasant moments she and her baby will endure.
17. Breastfeeding until the child is 1.5-2 years old. Breastfeeding for up to one year is not a physiological period for cessation of lactation, so both mother and child suffer during weaning.

RULE OF “DUTY CHEST”

One of the basic rules for successful breastfeeding is the “breast on duty” principle. A fairly common problem that young mothers face is that the baby does not completely empty the breast and does not receive enough “hind”, fatty and nutritious milk, but receives an excess of fore milk – “liquid” and sweet, with a high lactose content. As a result, problems with the gastrointestinal tract may arise, because the baby’s stomach is not able to independently digest a large volume of lactose, and the baby’s body would have to receive the enzymes necessary for its digestion with a portion of hind milk. Such unsystematic breastfeeding is also fraught with a decrease in lactation, because the mother’s body adapts to the child’s requirements - and if the child sucks the breast little by little and does not empty it, then less and less milk will be produced over time.

In this case, the “breast on duty” method will help. The bottom line is that, regardless of the number of attachments, only one breast is offered for 2-2.5 hours, then, for the next 2-2.5 hours, only the other. The rule of the duty breast is of particular importance during the establishment of breastfeeding, when the baby is latched on demand. In addition, this method significantly reduces the risk of milk stagnation. In addition, such periods of increased feeding frequency can occur in a child not only immediately after birth, but also in children with an already formed feeding interval during illness and during a lactation crisis in the mother (at 3-3.5 months, 6-7 months ).

Breastfeeding support website

Over the past decades, evidence and recommendations for breastfeeding have continued to grow. WHO can now say with complete confidence that breastfeeding reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood. For the general population, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, followed by breastfeeding with adequate complementary feeding for two or more years, is recommended for infant feeding.

To ensure that mothers can initiate and maintain exclusive breastfeeding for six months, WHO and UNICEF recommend:

• Conduct the first breastfeeding within the first hour of life;
• Carry out exclusive breastfeeding, that is, do not give the child anything other than breast milk - no other food or drink, not even water;
• Breastfeed on demand, that is, as often as the baby wants, both day and night.
• Do not use bottles, nipples or pacifiers.

Breast milk is the natural first food product for newborns. It contains all the nutrients and energy a baby needs during the first months of life and continues to meet half or more of a baby's nutritional needs during the second half of the first year and one-third during the second year.

Breast milk promotes sensory and cognitive development and protects the baby from infectious and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding helps reduce infant mortality from common childhood illnesses, such as diarrhea and pneumonia, and improves recovery from illness.

Breastfeeding is beneficial for the health and well-being of mothers. It allows for spacing of children, reduces the risk of ovarian and breast cancer, increases family and national resources, is a reliable feeding method and is environmentally friendly.

While breastfeeding is a natural behavior, it is also a learned behavior. Numerous scientific studies have demonstrated that mothers and other caregivers need active support in establishing and maintaining good breastfeeding practices. In 1992, WHO and UNICEF announced the Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative (BHII) to strengthen maternity ward practices to support breastfeeding. IBIV ​​is helping to improve the implementation of exclusive breastfeeding worldwide and, with support across the health system, can help mothers maintain exclusive breastfeeding.

WHO and UNICEF developed the 40-hour “Breastfeeding Counselling: A Training Course” and later the five-day “Infant and Young Child Feeding Counselling: A Comprehensive Course” to train health workers to provide skilled support to breastfeeding mothers and help them overcome problems. Basic breastfeeding support skills are also part of the Integrated Management of Childhood Illness Training Course for first-level health workers.

The Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding describes key actions to protect, promote and support breastfeeding.

Every mother wants to give her newborn baby only the best. And if the choice of a suitable stroller, crib and high-quality useful toys is a difficult question, but still not critical, then the issue of feeding plays a huge role.

Many of them face difficulties along the way due to lack of information or widespread prejudices. And in this case, WHO recommendations on breastfeeding can come to the aid of such mothers. But first, it's worth mentioning the benefits of this choice.

Manufacturers of infant formula convince customers that their products contain all the necessary complex of vitamins and nutrients for the child’s body. However, no formula can provide a baby with the benefits that breast milk brings. Among them:

• the ability to change the composition of milk depending on the age and needs of the child. No artificial formula is tailored to the needs of a specific child;
• the presence in milk of elements that help build immunity and increase protection against colds, reduce the risk of allergies and dysbacteriosis;
• presence of necessary antibodies in case of illness;
• ensuring close emotional contact between mother and baby;
• facilitating the process of a child falling asleep;
• high digestibility of all vitamins and microelements contained in milk. It has long been known that, despite the high iron content in artificial formulas, it is practically not absorbed in the child’s body, as a result of which formula-fed children often experience;
• formation of correct bite;
• normalization of intestinal microflora, as a result of which in most breastfed children the process of establishing the functioning of the digestive system as a whole is even easier.

In addition to the undoubted health benefits of the newborn, it also carries many benefits for the mother. Thanks to it, after childbirth, hormonal levels and the body as a whole are restored faster, and the duration of postpartum discharge is reduced due to more intense contractions of the uterus.

Natural feeding

Women who had the opportunity to compare the experience of natural and artificial feeding note that when breastfeeding it is much easier for them to establish psychological contact with the child, it is easier to guess his needs.

Breastfeeding reduces the risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

In addition to the health benefits for mother and baby, breastfeeding has another undeniable advantage over artificial formula - simplicity and convenience. Breast milk does not need to be cooled or heated; its temperature is optimal at any time. Parents don’t have to carry bottles of formula, a sterilizer, and a lot of other things everywhere.

In case of forced absence of the mother next to the child, all that needs to be done is to create a “bank” of milk. Once decanted, it stores well in the freezer.

Unfortunately, despite all the obvious benefits of breast milk, not all mothers know how to properly establish this natural process. In many developed countries, as well as in the post-Soviet space, advertising of formulas, agitation for feeding by the hour and many common misconceptions have led to the fact that a rare woman can start feeding her child without resorting to anyone’s help and advice.

• To help new mothers, the World Health Organization has published the following recommendations:
• It is extremely important that the baby receives the first drops of milk as early as possible, ideally immediately after birth. A few drops of colostrum ensure the colonization of the intestines with beneficial microflora from the first minutes of life.
• It is necessary from the very beginning to ensure that the baby latches onto the breast correctly - this will help avoid cracks and other unpleasant sensations. In addition, if the latch is incorrect, the baby may swallow a lot of air during feeding or not receive the required amount of milk. The baby's lips should tightly clasp not only the nipple itself, but also most of the areola; during feeding, the mother should not experience any unpleasant or painful sensations. If such sensations appear during feeding, you should carefully remove the breast from the baby and offer it again, carefully monitoring the correct grasp.
• Until your baby learns to latch on correctly, bottle feeding should be avoided as much as possible, and you should also avoid giving your baby a pacifier.
• Attempts to satisfy the sucking reflex with their help often lead to the formation of an incorrect grip. In addition, there are often cases when, even after one bottle feeding, a child refuses to latch on to the breast - this is due to the fact that it is much easier for the baby to obtain milk in this way. As a last resort, if you need to feed the baby in the absence of the mother, you should use a spoon or syringe. It must be remembered that in case of any doubts regarding the correct latch of the breast, every mother can seek help from a lactation consultant. The specialist will not only answer all your questions, but also show you how to properly latch on to your baby and advise which feeding position is most suitable for this particular mother and baby. There is no need to be afraid to ask for help in such an important matter.
• Supplemental feeding should be avoided - the baby can get all the fluid he needs from mother's milk. If you give your child water, juices or milk of animal origin, the stomach will be full, but the body will not be satisfied and will not receive the necessary nutrients.
• There is no need to wash your nipples with soap before each feeding! Constant washing, as well as the use of hard towels, can cause dry skin and, as a result, lead to cracked nipples. To maintain breast hygiene, a daily shower is enough.
• It is strictly not recommended to administer before 6 months. Up to six months, mother's milk satisfies all the baby's nutritional needs in full.
• The amount of milk in the breast is regulated according to the supply and demand system. The more often and more the baby eats, the more milk is produced. Therefore, in order to avoid lactostasis, you should not pump unless absolutely necessary - otherwise, more milk will be produced than required, which will inevitably lead to stagnation.
• It is extremely important to provide your baby with night feedings. Firstly, night milk is considered the most nutritious. Secondly, in the pre-dawn hours the production of a hormone responsible for the amount of milk occurs. If the baby is bottle-fed at night, the mother’s body concludes that the need for milk has decreased and, accordingly, reduces its production.
• You need to make sure that the baby completely empties one breast before taking the other - otherwise he will not be provided with the most nutritious, “hind” milk.
• Avoid frequent weighing - each child gains weight differently, and the well-known weight gain tables that pediatricians are accustomed to relying on are primarily a guide for bottle-fed children. They were created to monitor possible overweight, and not at all underweight. Frequent weighings will only lead to increased nervousness in the mother, which will inevitably affect the quantity and quality of milk. What to do if it seems that the child is not gaining weight well, but doctors or others convince him that milk is “non-nutritive”? First of all, the mother needs to focus on her subjective feelings. Is the child healthy, alert, and developing according to schedule? It can be said with a high degree of probability that it has enough nutrients for full development. If you still have doubts, you can conduct the so-called “wet diaper” test. You should stop for a day and count the number of bowel movements. A child who has enough milk will have time to wet about 10-12 diapers during this time.
• A child should be breastfed until at least two years of age - even with adequate complementary feeding with regular foods, the child continues to receive antibodies and other useful substances from the mother in case of illness. Weaning should be done gradually, reducing the number of feedings. Night feedings are one of the last to be removed. In addition, such a recommendation is important for those mothers who are worried about the shape of their breasts. It is gradual involution (completion of feeding) that allows the mammary gland to gradually return to its original appearance.

The benefits of breastfeeding over artificial feeding are completely obvious, and every mother who is worried about the health of her baby should delve into all the intricacies of this process and provide him with the most necessary things from birth.

The most common problems on the path to successful feeding are fears and prejudices, but in the modern world every mother can find the necessary information or seek help to dispel doubts. Good luck on this journey!

• !!! New WHO Guidelines to set global standards for providing health care to healthy pregnant women and reducing unnecessary medical interventions have been signed

« We want women to give birth in a safe environment, with trained birth attendants in well-equipped health facilities. However, the increasing medicalization of normal childbirth undermines women's own ability to bear children and negatively affects their birth experience." said Dr Princess Nothemba Simelela, WHO Assistant Director-General for Families, Women, Children and Adolescents.

Also note:

1. Each woman can choose whatever type of birthing service she prefers (any position possible: standing, kneeling, squatting, in a clinic or at home, in water or dry).
2. Informal antenatal, birth and postnatal care systems (where they already exist) need to operate alongside the formal system. Cooperation with them should be supported in every possible way in the interests of mother and child. Such relationships, established in the absence of superiority of one system over another, can be highly effective.
3. Information about the methods practiced in the hospital (maternity hospital) chosen by the woman and its statistics should be known to the population served by these hospitals (rate of cesarean sections, mortality rate per 1000 births, incidence of staphylococcus, streptococcus in newborns, etc.).
4. The psychological well-being of a new mother should be ensured not only through free access to relatives of her choice during childbirth, but also through free visitation after childbirth.
5. A healthy newborn should remain with the mother. When their health condition allows it. No process of monitoring the health of a newborn justifies separating him from his mother! Joint communication between mother and child should not be prevented, the duration of which should be determined by the mother’s wishes. Mother and child should be encouraged to be in the same room.
6. Breastfeeding should begin no later than 30 minutes after birth (that is, while still in the delivery room).
7. Caesarean section is used on average in no more than 10% of cases.
8. Electronic monitoring of the fetus during labor does not always have an adequate effect on the birth process. Computer-assisted fetal monitoring should be performed in carefully selected cases and in induced (induced) labor.
9. There are no indications for shaving pubic hair or taking an enema before childbirth.
10. It is necessary that women can walk during contractions. Every woman should be free to decide what position to take during childbirth.
11. Provoking contractions should be practiced in no more than 10% of cases.
12. During childbirth, the use of painkillers and anesthetics without appropriate medical indications should be avoided.
13. Attention must be paid to the emotional, psychological and social aspects of childbirth care:

a) the choice of place of birth and the specific candidacy of the obstetrician delivering the child are important (for paid births);

b) it is necessary to maintain physical integrity and for the mother and child to occupy a separate room;

c) it is necessary to consider the birth of a child as a purely personal family event;

d) it is important to provide warmth, proper living conditions and nutrition in the 1st month after the birth of a child only with breast milk: artificial feeding is permissible only in 10% of cases;

e) follow-up medical care after the birth of the child is necessary;

f) paid leave should also be provided to fathers so that they have the opportunity to communicate with the child and provide assistance to the mother;

g) in any country or region, customs associated with the birth of a child should be respected and supported if they do not pose a threat to his health. The placenta and umbilical cord are the property of the child;

h) care provided at home to all mothers and children should be equivalent to that provided to healthy women and children in hospital;

i) all parents and newborns have the right to direct communication from the moment of birth. Joint communication between mother and child should not be prevented, the duration of which should be determined by the mother’s wishes;

j) Women can keep a medical card or a copy of it at home; it must contain information about the course of pregnancy and childbirth. The confidential nature of the information contained in these documents must be respected;

k) all women and newborns should have their immune status tested by laboratory methods in accordance with the recommendations adopted in their countries, regardless of whether they are at home or in hospital.

1. The time of discharge from the hospital should be determined depending on the condition of the mother and child, the wishes of the parents and support at home. In particular, the policy of discharge from the hospital should not be determined only by the criteria of the child’s body weight, but should be focused on the earliest possible discharge.
2. Parents have the right to early active participation in their child's care. Government health authorities should strive to include maternal and child health in the curricula of universities, medical schools and public health courses. Conduct outreach and educational work to prepare young people - parents and health workers - for the responsibilities associated with giving birth and caring for children, through lectures, thematic programs on television and radio, as well as publications in newspapers and other media.

Caring for Normal Childbirth: A Practical Guide (Technical Working Group Report)

2.4 Place of birth

“...Where a trained birth attendant can correctly assess risk, advice on location of birth based on that assessment is not always followed. Many factors deter women from accessing higher-level health care facilities. Among them:

• cost of childbirth in hospital,
• unusual [medical] practices,
• unsatisfactory staff attitude,
• restrictions placed on the possibility of family members being present during childbirth, and often the need to obtain permission from another family member (usually a man) to go to a medical facility...

Often, high- and very high-risk women do not feel sick or show symptoms of ill health, and therefore give birth at home, with the help of family members, neighbors or traditional birth attendants...However, a properly managed home birth requires some basic preparation...transportation vehicles to the health facility must be available when necessary. In practice, this means that community support and funds are needed to provide emergency transport in areas where transport is problematic.
 Some developed countries have established special maternity centers in and outside hospitals , where low-risk women can give birth in a home-like environment while receiving basic care usually provided by midwives. Most of these centers do not use electronic fetal monitoring or induction of labor and use minimal pain medications. Detailed report on care in maternity centers in USA

describes care in alternative birthing centers in and outside of hospitals... Research into the care provided by midwives in hospitals showed that the satisfaction women receive from such care significantly exceeds the satisfaction from standard care. In general, the number of artificial interventions was lower, especially the use of obstetric analgesia, induction and induction of labor. Birth outcome data did not differ significantly from those observed when births were attended by consultants, although in some cases mortality during birth was slightly higher with the obstetric model of care... In a number of developed countries, dissatisfaction with hospital care has prompted small groups of women and their caregivers to turn to the practice of home birth in an alternative setting, often in greater or lesser conflict with the official health care system. Statistics on these home births are scarce. One Australian study collected data indicating that selection for low-risk pregnancies was only moderately successful. In planned home births, hospital transfers and obstetric interventions were low. Death rates during childbirth and infant mortality were also relatively low, but no data were provided on preventable factors...

Netherlands are a developed country with a formal home birth system. The proportion of home births varies greatly by region, and varies even among large cities. A study of mortality during childbirth found no correlation between the rate of hospital attendance for childbirth and the rate of death during childbirth in the respective regions... A study carried out in the province of Gelderland compared the outcome of home and hospital births. The results indicate that for first-time women with low-risk pregnancies, home birth was as safe as hospital birth. For multiparous women with low-risk pregnancies, home birth outcomes were significantly better than hospital birth outcomes... There is no reason to believe that this system of care for pregnant women would be improved by increasing the degree of medicalization of birth...

So where should a woman give birth? It is safe to say that a woman should give birth in a place where she feels safe, in the closest environment to her, where appropriate care will be feasible and safe... For women with a low-risk pregnancy, this could be a home, a small maternity hospital or a maternity center in the city, or perhaps a maternity ward in a general hospital.

However, it should be a place where her needs and safety are the focus and as close to her home and culture as possible.

If birth occurs at home or in a small, peripheral birth center, ensuring access to a staffed health center in case of emergency should be part of antenatal preparations.”

For Belarus, these documents are only advisory in nature and have not been supported at the legislative level. But the experience and recommendations of WHO on conditions during childbirth for women would be more than appropriate to use to improve the conditions of obstetric care.

Breastfeeding is one of the most effective ways to ensure the health and survival of children.

Initiation of breastfeeding within the first hour of birth, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life, and continued breastfeeding until age two could save the lives of an estimated 800,000 children each year. Worldwide, less than 40% of children under six months of age are exclusively breastfed.

In order for mothers and families to initiate and maintain optimal breastfeeding practices, adequate counseling and breastfeeding support are essential.

WHO actively promotes breastfeeding as the best source of nutrition for infants and young children. This fact sheet shows the many benefits of breastfeeding and how continued support for mothers can help increase breastfeeding rates around the world.

WHO recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life. Solid foods such as fruit and vegetable purees should be introduced at six months of age, in addition to breastfeeding continuing until age two and beyond. Besides:

• Breastfeeding should begin within the first hour after birth
• Breastfeeding should be done on demand, as often as the baby wants, day and night
• The use of bottles and pacifiers should be avoided.

Health benefits for children

Breast milk is an ideal food for newborns and infants.

It contains all the nutrients children need for healthy development. It is safe and contains antibodies that help protect children from common childhood illnesses such as diarrhea and pneumonia, which are the two leading causes of death in children worldwide. Breast milk is readily available and affordable, helping to ensure adequate nutrition for infants.

Benefits for mothers

Breastfeeding also provides benefits for mothers. Exclusive breastfeeding is associated with a natural (but not guaranteed) method of birth control (98 percent protection in the first six months after birth). It reduces the risks of developing breast and ovarian cancer later in life, type 2 diabetes and postpartum depression.

Long-term benefits for children

In addition to the immediate benefits for children, breastfeeding contributes to good health throughout life. Teens and adults who were breastfed as children are less likely to be overweight or obese. They are less likely to have type 2 diabetes and score higher on intelligence tests.

Why not baby formula?

Infant formula does not contain the antibodies found in breast milk. The long-term benefits of breastfeeding for mothers and babies cannot be replicated with infant formula.

If infant formula is not prepared properly, there are risks associated with the use of unsafe water and unsterile supplies, or the potential presence of bacteria in the powdered formula. Excessive dilution of the formula in order to “stretch” reserves can lead to malnutrition. Breast milk supplies are maintained through frequent breastfeeding, so when formula becomes unavailable, returning to breastfeeding may not be possible due to reduced breast milk production.

HIV and breastfeeding

An HIV-infected mother may transmit the infection to your child during pregnancy, childbirth or breastfeeding. Antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) given to a mother or child at risk of exposure to HIV reduce the risk of transmission. Breastfeeding combined with ARVs has the potential to significantly improve the chances of survival of children who remain HIV-uninfected. According to WHO recommendations, breastfeeding HIV-infected mothers should receive ARVs and follow WHO guidelines for infant feeding.

Regulation of breast milk substitutes

In 1981, the International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk Substitutes was adopted. He calls

• Provide information on the benefits of breastfeeding and the health risks of substitutes on all infant formula labels.
• do not promote the sale of breast milk substitutes
• do not provide free samples of substitutes to pregnant women, mothers or their families
• do not distribute free substitutes or provide subsidies for them to healthcare workers and medical institutions

Support for mothers needed

Breastfeeding needs to be learned. In the beginning, many women face difficulties. Many common practices, such as mother-baby stays
in separate wards, the use of neonatal wards and formula feeding actually make breastfeeding more difficult for mothers and babies. Health care facilities that support breastfeeding by avoiding the above techniques and by having trained lactation consultants available to new mothers are helping to increase breastfeeding rates. Thanks to the WHO-UNICEF Breastfeeding Friendly Hospital Initiative, which aims to support and improve maternal and newborn care, Breastfeeding Friendly Hospitals are available in 152 countries.

Work and breastfeeding

Many mothers returning to work give up breastfeeding partially or completely because they do not have enough time or space to feed their babies, express and store their milk. A safe, clean and private place at or near work should be provided for mothers to continue breastfeeding. Facilities that provide opportunities for mothers, such as paid maternity leave, part-time work, on-site nurseries, places to express and store breast milk, and breaks provided for breastfeeding, can promote breastfeeding.

The next step is to gradually introduce solid foods

To meet the increasing needs of infants, pureed solid foods should be introduced at six months of age in addition to continued breastfeeding. Food for children can be prepared separately or from food intended for other family members. WHO notes that:

• When introducing solid foods, do not reduce the amount of breast milk
• Solid foods should be given by spoon or cup, not in a bottle.
• solid food must be clean, safe and locally available
• Young children need time to learn to eat solid foods.