AN INTRODUCTION TO

INFANT AND YOUNG

CHILD FEEDING
Session 1
OBJECTIVES:
 After completing this session
participants will be able to:
• Describe the Global Strategy for Infant and
Young Child Feeding
• List the operational targets of the Global
Strategy
• State the current recommendations for
feeding children from 0-24 months of age
The Global Strategy for Infant and
Young Child Feeding

 Developed by WHO and UNICEF to revitalize

world attention on the impact that feeding
practices have on infants and young children
 Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or
indirectly, for 60% of the 10.9 million deaths
annually among children <5 years
 Over two-thirds of these deaths occur in the
first year of life
Policy Initiatives
 International Code of Marketing of
Breast-milk Substitutes (1981)
 Innocenti Declaration (1990)
 Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (1991)
 Global Strategy for Infant and Young
Child Feeding (2002)
Exclusive Breastfeeding

 Breastfeeding provides ideal food for the

healthy growth and development of
infants
 Infants should be exclusively breastfed
for the first six months of life
Question

What does the term

“exclusive breastfeeding”
mean?
Definition of Exclusive
Breastfeeding

 Exclusive breastfeeding means

giving a baby only breast milk, and
no other liquids or solids, not even
water. Drops or syrups consisting of
vitamins, mineral supplements or
medicines are permitted.
 Virtually all mothers can
breastfeed exclusively provided
they have accurate information,
and support within their families
and communities.
 They should have access to skilled
practical help from people trained in
breastfeeding counseling who can
help build their confidence, improve
feeding technique and prevent or
resolve breastfeeding difficulties.
Complementary Feeds:
 After six months all babies require
complementary foods while breastfeeding
continues for up to two years of age or
beyond
 Complementary Feeds:

 Infants are particularly vulnerable during

the transition period when complementary
feeding begins. Ensuring that their
nutritional needs are met requires that
complementary foods be:
Complementary feeds are
 Timely- they are introduced when the
need for energy and nutrients exceeds
what can be provided through exclusive
and frequent breastfeeding
 Adequate- they provide sufficient
energy, protein and micronutrients to
meet a growing child’s nutritional needs
Complementary feeds are
 Safe- hygienically stored and prepared
and fed with clean hands using clean
utensils and not bottles and teats
 Properly fed- they are given in response
to a child’s signals of hunger and that
meal frequency and feeding methods
are suitable for the child’s age
Complementary Feeds:
 Things to consider when talking about complementary feeding
• Age of infant/young child
• Frequency of feeding
• Amount of foods
• Texture (thickness/consistency)
• Variety of foods
• Active or responsive feeding
• Hygiene
Complementary feeds are
 Age of infant/young child – appropriate
for child’s age
 Frequency of feeding – the number of
times meals and additional snacks are
given in addition to breastmilk
Complementary feeds are
 Amount of food – quantity and serving
portion of food
 Texture – pertains to the thickness or
consistency of food
Complementary feeds are
 Variety of foods – complementary feeds
should come various sources i.e. animal
source, staples, legumes, fruits and
vegetables and breastfeed as often as
the child wants
Complementary feeds are
 Active or responsive feeding – assisting
child to eat, being sensitive to their cues
or signals, feed the child slowly and
patiently, and talk to child during feeding
Complementary feeds are
 Hygiene – clean and safe preparation of
complementary feeds
Feeding in exceptionally difficult
circumstances

 Emergency situations
 Malnourished children
 Low birth weight babies
 Infants of HIV infected mothers
 Orphans
Maraming salamat po!