College of Public Health and Human Sciences

Breast is best. Both the World Health Organization and the American Academy of Pediatrics agree that Baby needs no other foods or drinks, even water, for 6 months.1,2 Mother should then continue to nurse him (throughout this article, we refer to the child as “he” to distinguish him from his mother), while offering age-appropriate complementary foods, for several more months1 or years.2 These recommendations are based on a vast body of research that consistently provides evidence of positive outcomes for both Mother and Baby associated with increased duration of breastfeeding.