General information only. This Parent Resource summarizes WHO public-health information and does not prescribe an individual child’s feeding plan.
How does WHO connect breastfeeding and complementary feeding?
WHO describes exclusive breastfeeding during the first six months followed by continued breastfeeding alongside nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods introduced from six months.
Why is the first two years period emphasized?
WHO describes nutrition during infancy and early childhood as important for growth, development and longer-term health.
What is complementary feeding?
Complementary feeding is the period when breast milk alone no longer meets all nutritional requirements and other foods are introduced while breastfeeding continues.
What does WHO report about the global nutrition context?
WHO’s 2026 update reports that in 2024 an estimated 150 million children under five were stunted, 43 million were wasted and 36 million were living with overweight.
Public-health principles are not a personalized menu. This page does not assess feeding ability, allergy risk, growth or nutritional requirements for an individual child.
References
- World Health Organization. Infant and young child feeding, 4 August 2026.