For the first 6 months, feed only breast milk, not even water; from 6 months add complementary foods and keep breastfeeding
Grade AMedium benefitLifespanFreeLots of timeHigh willpower
Start feeding in the 1st hour after the child is born. For the first 6 months, feed only breast milk, not even water. From a full 6 months, add complementary foods, with iron-rich animal foods every day, and keep breastfeeding to 2 years or longer. If there is not enough breast milk, or breastfeeding is not possible, use formula.
- Cost
- No money, and it saves the cost of formula. What it takes is time. Feeding takes a large part of every day. The hard part is keeping it up, and not stopping in the first 6 months.
- Benefit
- The World Health Organization recommends "starting breastfeeding within the 1st hour after birth." For the first 6 months, "exclusive breastfeeding, meaning no other food or liquid, including water." Then "from 6 months of age, start safe and adequate complementary foods, and continue breastfeeding to 2 years or beyond." The National Health Commission service guide also promotes exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months. The same guide requires that from a full 6 months "the day's complementary foods must include iron-rich animal foods."
- Notes
- If breast milk is not enough, or the body does not allow breastfeeding, use formula. There is no need to feel guilty. The gap between breast milk and formula is far smaller than the safe-sleep item. That is the author's judgment. How often to add complementary foods, from that Health Commission service guide: at 6 to 8 months, 1 to 2 times a day; at 9 to 12 months, 2 to 3 times a day. Each day's complementary foods are chosen from 7 food groups, and not fewer than 4. If the child has severe eczema or an egg allergy, whether to avoid peanuts is in item 12 of this section (do not avoid peanuts). If the mother eats vegetarian, or wants the child to eat vegetarian, see item 14 of this section (on a vegetarian diet, supplement vitamin B12 every day).
Sources · 2
- World Health Organization. Breastfeeding. who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding
- 国家卫生健康委办公厅 (2024). 婴幼儿营养喂养评估服务指南（试行）（国卫办妇幼函〔2024〕452 号）. gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202502/content_70028…