Infant and Young Child Feeding Guidelines, 2016

Area of Science:

• Pediatrics
• Public Health Nutrition
• Maternal and Child Health

Background:

• Post-2015 development agenda necessitates assessment of progress towards Millennium Development Goals.
• Guidelines development is timely to evaluate and improve infant and young child feeding practices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To formulate, adopt, and disseminate Indian guidelines for Infant and Young Child Feeding (IYCF).
• Guidelines address human milk banking, infant feeding in HIV contexts, and micronutrient supplementation.

Main Methods:

• National Consultative Meet convened by the Indian Academy of Pediatrics' IYCF chapter.
• Expert contributions from government bodies (WHO, UNICEF, Ministries), professional associations, NGOs, and academicians.
• Guidelines finalized at IYCNCON 2015, New Delhi.

Main Results:

• Optimal feeding strategy: early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for six months, continued breastfeeding up to two years with complementary foods.
• Advocacy for micronutrient supplementation in infants.
• Emphasis on adequate nutrition and anemia control for adolescent girls, pregnant, and lactating mothers.

Conclusions:

• Established breastfeeding practices are crucial for infant and young child health.
• Incorporation of human milk bank concepts and their necessity in India.
• Comprehensive approach to infant nutrition, including supplementation and maternal health.