Literature review for - Flourish Paediatrics

feeding, the AAP firmly adheres to the position that breastfeeding ensures the best possible
health as well as the best developmental and psychosocial outcomes for the infant.
American Dietetic Association (ADA). Position statement on breastfeeding (2009)
It is the position of the American Dietetic Association that exclusive breastfeeding provides
optimal nutrition and health protection for the first 6 months of life and breastfeeding with
complementary foods from 6 months until at least 12 months of age is the ideal feeding
pattern for infants. Breastfeeding is an important public health strategy for improving infant
and child morbidity and mortality, and improving maternal morbidity, and helping to control
health care costs.
United States Breastfeeding Committee (2010)
The United States Breastfeeding Committee recommends that healthy full-term infants be
exclusively breastfed for about six months. Optimal breastfeeding contributes to normal
growth and improved child and adult health outcomes. Months four through six are defined
as a critical period in the continuation of exclusive breastfeeding because a significant
proportion of women prematurely wean their babies during this time. Two of the most
important factors for the premature discontinuation of exclusive breastfeeding are the return
to work and misperceptions regarding infants’ nutritional needs.
The only acceptable maternal reasons for which “breastmilk feeding should be avoided” as
HIV infection, human t-lymphotrophic virus type I or II, substance abuse and/or alcohol
abuse, active, untreated tuberculosis, taking certain medications, undergoing radiation
therapy, active, untreated varicella, active herpes simplex virus with breast lesions
In some of these cases, the infant can and should be exclusively fed breastmilk or donor
human milk
National Network for Child Care (NNCC), USA (accessed Oct 2010)
The NNCC states that breastfeeding is the preferred method of infant feeding. However, if
breastfeeding is not adopted or is discontinued before 12 months of age, iron-fortified infant
formula is the best alternative. Breastmilk and infant formula are the only foods
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