- Counsel and support all mothers to initiate breastfeeding within an hour of delivery and exclusively breastfeed
their infants for the first six months of life, unless medically contraindicated. - Teach mother correct positioning and attachment for breastfeeding, how to express and store breast milk
hygienically, and how to feed the child by a cup. - Counsel and support parents to introduce adequate, safe, and appropriate complementary foods at 6 months of age, and to continue breast feeding until the child is 2 years.
- A good diet should be adequate in quantity and include an energy-rich food (e.g. thick cereal with added oil, meat, fish, eggs, legumes, fruits and vegetables)
- Pregnant women and lactating mothers should consume adequate nutritious foods
- Recommend exclusive breastfeeding for infants of HIV-infected women for the first 6 months unless
the replacement is acceptable, feasible, affordable, sustainable, and safe (AFASS). - Malnourished children should be provided with appropriate medical care, nutritional rehabilitation, and
follow-up. - Encourage mothers of low birth weight infants who can suckle to breastfeed. Assist those who cannot breastfeed to express breast milk and feed the baby.
- During illness, children should take increased fluids: breastfeed more often, increase amount of milk given,
increase fluid intake (e.g. soups, yoghurt, and drinking water). Extra fluid in diarrhoea is especially life-saving - For more information on feeding recommendations in infants and young children.