COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICE

               COMPLEMENTARY FEEDING PRACTICE

Complementary feeding is defined as the process starting when breast milk alone is no longer sufficient to meet the nutritional requirements of infants, and therefore other foods and liquids are needed, along with breast milk. The transition from exclusive breastfeeding to family foods referred to as complementary feeding,   typically covers the period from 6 - 24 months of age, even though breastfeeding may continue to two years of age. This is a critical period of growth during which nutrient deficiencies and illnesses contribute globally to higher rates of undernutrition among children under- five years of age.

A number of successful strategies have been developed to improve complementary feeding practices in low and middle-income countries, where practical difficulties can limit adherence to complementary feeding guidelines.

A period of vulnerability and opportunity÷

Greatest vulnerability to malnutrition and infection: Nutritional needs for growth and development between 6-24 months of age are greater per kilogram of body weight than at any other time of life. Growth faltering occurs mainly in the first two years of life in all regions of the world. Insufficient nutrient intake and illness resulting from the introduction of pathogens in contaminated foods and feeding bottles are major causes of malnutrition.

Brain and body development: Good nutrition is essential at this time to ensure healthy brain and body development.

Long-term, irreversible consequences.

Poor feeding practices and low quality food can affect future learning ability, economic productivity, immune response, and reproductive outcomes. Children who are undernourished before they reach their second birthday and later gain weight rapidly after the age of two years are at high risk of nutrition-related chronic disease as adults.

Window of opportunity: Nutrition interventions during this period can lead to great benefits. Feeding practices appropriate for the child’s age, nutritionally adequate foods, and continued breastfeeding can ensure optimal growth and development

Poor complementary feeding practices.              

     ·      Poorly timed introduction of complementary  foods (too early or too late)

·        Infrequent feeding (children need to be fed frequently throughout the day because of their small stomach size)

·        Poor feeding methods, hygiene, and child care practices

·        Unsupervised feeding

·        Lack of interaction between caregiver and child

·        Unhygienic food preparation storage and unclean feeding utensils

·        Bottle-feeding

WHO recommendations

Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life to achieve optimal growth, development and health. Thereafter, to meet their evolving nutritional requirements, infants should receive nutritionally adequate and safe complementary foods, while continuing to breastfeed for up to two years.