Conclusions of the Global Consultation on Complementary Feeding

Abstract

Infants and young children are at increased risk of developing malnutrition from six months of age onwards when breastmilk alone is no longer sufficient to meet all nutritional requirements and complementary feeding needs to be started. Complementary foods are often of lesser nutritional quality than breastmilk. In addition they are often given in insufficient amounts and if given too early or too frequently they displace breastmilk. Gastric capacity limits the amount of food that a young child can consume during each meal. Repeated infections reduce the appetite and increase the risk of inadequate intakes. Infants and young children need a caring adult who not only selects and offers appropriate foods but also assists and encourages them to consume these foods in sufficient quantity. Based on the information presented in the five background papers and presentation of additional data from research and programmes to improve complementary feeding participants in the consultation formulated recommendations to improve complementary feeding focusing on appropriate feeding practices as well as programmatic approaches for their promotion. (excerpt)