Scaling Smart: The Potential of Digital Strategies to Promote Breastfeeding in Low- and Middle-Income Countries

Digital technologies are increasingly used to promote and support breastfeeding, particularly where access to skilled lactation counseling is limited. This Perspective argues that such tools should complement, not replace, in-person care and should be integrated into maternal and child health systems in low- and middle-income countries. Drawing on lessons from large-scale digital health initiatives, it highlights the importance of equity, government ownership, and sustainability. The paper also emphasizes the need for pandemic and emergency preparedness in digital strategies to ensure continuity of breastfeeding support when face-to-face services are disrupted. It concludes with key priorities for policymakers and implementers to design, evaluate, and scale digital breastfeeding interventions responsibly and equitably.