Proper feeding of infants and young children can increase their chances of survival. Starting at
6 months, breastfeeding should be combined with safe, age-appropriate feeding
of solid, semi-solid and soft foods.
Analysis of data on feeding practices among infants and young
children highlights the need for accelerated programming in this area. The data
show that about three quarters of children aged 12-15 months are still
breastfeeding. Global estimates for appropriate feeding of children aged 6
months to 2 years are currently limited to the timely introduction of solid,
semi-solid or soft foods at 6 to 8 months. Levels of recommended breastfeeding
practices vary widely among regions.
Global rates have improved modestly, with change driven
almost entirely by South Asia, where
exclusive breastfeeding rates increased by 17 percentage points between 2000
and 2015. South Asia has made the greatest strides in exclusive breastfeeding
of all regions.
In every region of the world, rates of exclusive
breastfeeding decline steadily from birth to 5 months of age. Significant
numbers of infants are being introduced to complementary foods too early in all
regions, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Similarly, in West
and Central Africa and East Asia and the Pacific, the rates among women from
the poorest quintile are 1.6 times higher than women in the richest quintile. As
infants grow, their nutrient needs grow with them. While it is recommended
that infants start eating solid foods at 6 months, globally, about one third of
infants 6–8 months old are not yet eating solid foods, posing a threat to their
growth and development.
Despite improvements in animal source food consumption as
children age, the fact that a third of these nearly 2-year-old children are
still not consuming any animal-source foods at all requires programmatic
action.
UK 'world's worst' at breastfeeding
Rates of breastfeeding in
the UK are the lowest in the world, an international study shows. The researchers said it was a
"widespread misconception" that breastfeeding was beneficial only in
poor countries.
In the UK, 81 % of mothers had tried breastfeeding at some
point, but only 34 % were breastfeeding at six months and 0.5 % at 12 months.
Breastfeeding is good
for the health of the baby and lowers the risk of breast and
ovarian cancer. The Lancet report said breastfeeding in developed countries
reduced the risk of sudden infant deaths by more than a third.
Overall, the report's authors said that near-universal
breastfeeding could save over 800,000 children's lives a year. A commentary,
signed by Save the Children UK and the World Health Organization, was critical
of formula milk being promoted at the expense of breastfeeding.
Commenting on the
findings, Sarah Redshaw, from the BabyCentre website, said: "It is
crucial to bear in mind the various barriers and challenges faced by mums when
it comes to breastfeeding.”
"Generally mums are aware that breastfeeding is best for
their baby but often don't get the right support if they encounter problems in
the early weeks - which many, many do.”
"As a result,
significant numbers give up on breastfeeding."
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