title: Breastfeed till two.
abstract: I would like to comment on the article on breast feeding in emergency situations (AH Sept '97).  The first sentence, "Breast feeding is widely recognized as the optimal feeding option for an infant up to the age of 6 months," might give the impression--albeit unintentionally--that breast feeding is only important during this period.  It is generally recommended that breast feeding should continue, accompanied by suitable complementary foods, until around 2 years.  I think it is now established that effective suckling by the baby is as crucial for successful breast feeding as the mother's let-down reflex.  Proper positioning of the infant on the breast may be as important as helping the mother feel confident about breast feeding.  WHO has not ignored this issue.  It has produced a review version of the document "Guiding principles for feeding infants and young children during emergencies" (doc NIT.97.3), which promotes breast feeding for all children under 2 years.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Burgess
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding; D003710:Demography; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006262:Health; D007223:Infant; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007390:International Agencies; D009747:Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D009938:Organizations; D011153:Population; D011154:Population Characteristics; D014480:United Nations; D014944:World Health Organization
keywords: Age Factors; Breast Feeding; Critique; Demographic Factors; Health; Infant; Infant Nutrition; International Agencies; Nutrition; Organizations; Population; Population Characteristics; Un; Who; Youth