2.

Infant and young child feeding

Suboptimal infant and young child feeding practices increase vulnerability to undernutrition, disease and death. The
risks are heightened in disasters and the youngest are most vulnerable. Optimal feeding practices that maximise
survival and reduce morbidity in children under 24 months are early initiation of exclusive breastfeeding, exclusive
breastfeeding for 6months, continued breastfeeding to 24 months or beyond, and introduction of adequate,
appropriate and safe complementary foods at 6 months.
IYCF (infant and young child feeding) is concerned with interventions to protect and support the nutritional needs of
both breastfed and non-breastfed infants and young children. Priority interventions include breastfeeding protection
and support, minimising the risks of artificial feedingand enabling appropriate and safe complementary feeding.
Infants and young children in exceptionally difficult circumstances, such as HIV-prevalent populations, orphans, low
birth weight (LBW) infants and those severely malnourished, warrant particular attention. Protection and support of
the nutritional, physical and mental health of both pregnant and breastfeeding women are central to the well-being of
the mother and child. The particular needs of caregivers who are grandparents, single fathers or siblings must be
considered. Cross-sector engagement is essential to protect and meet adequately and in time the broader nutritional
needs of infants and young children and their mothers. IYCF is integral to many of the standards in this chapter and
overlaps in other chapters.