Infant and young child feeding in Western Pacific

WHO recommendations for optimal infant and young child feeding are:

• Exclusive breastfeeding for six months;

• Nutritionally adequate and safe complementary feeding starting from the age of six months with continued breastfeeding up to two years of age or beyond.

Exclusive breastfeeding means that an infant receives only breast milk from his or her mother or a wet nurse, or expressed breast milk, and no other liquids or solids, not even water, with the exception of oral rehydration solution, drops or syrups consisting of vitamins, minerals supplements or medicines.

Complementary feeding is defined as the process starting when breast milk is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are needed, along with breast milk.