Feed only breast milk for the first 6 months, not even water, start solid foods at 6 months and keep breastfeeding
- Moderate value
- Evidence A
- Buys life
- For: Child under 3, Pregnant or trying
- Free
- Takes time daily
- Long-term effort
In plain words
Start feeding in the first hour after the baby is born. For the first 6 months, feed only breast milk, not even water. From 6 months, add solid foods, with an iron-rich animal food every day, and keep breastfeeding until 2 years or longer. If there is not enough milk or you can't breastfeed, use formula, and don't blame yourself. What you feed matters far less for the baby's safety than the sleeping position.
- Cost
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Free, and you save the cost of formula. It costs time, since feeding takes up a good part of every day. The hard part is keeping it up: you can't stop during the first 6 months.
- What you get
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The World Health Organization advises "starting breastfeeding within the first hour after birth." For the first 6 months, "exclusive breastfeeding, meaning no other food or liquid is given, including water." Then "from 6 months of age, safe and adequate complementary foods are introduced while breastfeeding continues to 2 years or beyond." The National Health Commission's (国家卫健委) service guide also promotes exclusive breastfeeding from 0 to 6 months. The guide also requires that from 6 months of age "the complementary foods every day must include iron-rich animal foods."
- Notes
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If there is not enough milk, or the mother's health does not allow breastfeeding, use formula. The gap between breast milk and formula is far smaller than for the safe-sleep item. How often to give solid foods: 1 to 2 times a day from 6 to 8 months, and 2 to 3 times a day from 9 to 12 months. What the child eats in a day should cover at least four of seven food groups. If the child has severe eczema or an egg allergy, see §20.12 (don't avoid peanuts) on whether to avoid peanuts. If the mother is vegetarian and wants the child to be vegetarian, see §20.14 (if vegetarian, take vitamin B12 every day).
- Evidence grade
- A : Specific numbers from meta-analyses, large cohorts or randomized trials; for law and policy, the statute or official text.
- Sources
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- World Health Organization. Breastfeeding. https://www.who.int/health-topics/breastfeeding
- 国家卫生健康委办公厅 (2024). 婴幼儿营养喂养评估服务指南（试行）（国卫办妇幼函〔2024〕452 号）. https://www.gov.cn/zhengce/zhengceku/202502/content_7002872.htm
Mentioned in
- If a child has severe eczema or an egg allergy, don't avoid peanuts: add them early as the doctor directs, but never give whole peanuts
- If you are vegetarian while pregnant or breastfeeding, take vitamin B12 every day; the child's solid foods need animal foods, and if you insist on fully vegan, see a doctor first
Translated from the Chinese original. Original book, section 20, tip 4. This section is about health and medicines. It is general information, not a substitute for a doctor’s diagnosis or prescription. Content may be out of date and rules differ by place. When you actually deal with an agency, a doctor or a court, follow what local officials, doctors and lawyers tell you. Disclaimer