[Bases for adequate complementary feeding in infants and young children]

Infants can be exclusively breast fed or formula fed for the first 6 months of life and their nutritional requirements are completely fulfilled. However, from 6 months onwards, human milk is not sufficient to supply all the nutrients necessary for infants and young children. Therefore, adequate supplementary feeding, in terms of both quantity and quality, should be provided. The present article aims to describe the scientific bases for practical recommendations on complementary feeding during infancy and early childhood, which may be useful to pediatricians and should serve to improve the health status of the infant population in Spain. In this sense, the new international recommendations for energy, protein and other nutrient requirements are reviewed. In Spain, the law applicable to manufacturing infant cereals and homogenized infant foods is that published by the European Union in specific directives. However, taking into consideration new advances in knowledge of nutritional requirements, we have considered a number of issues that could be relevant for the manufacture of these foods. Finally, we propose a series of basic principles that should serve as a guide for the complementary feeding of infants (whether breast fed, formula fed, or receiving mixed feeding) and young children. These recommendations are particularly addressed to pediatricians working in primary health services.