Last updated: 12 Jun 2018
WHY BREASTFEEDING?
Research has proven that the first 1000 days of a child’s life — from the child’s conception to their second birthday — is the most crucial and critical period of their development. According to UNICEF, this is when the foundations of optimum health, growth, and neurodevelopment across the lifespan are established. This period is very important in terms of nutrition for the infant and thus breastfeeding plays an important role in providing the vital nutrients.
Breastmilk contains all the vitamins, minerals, enzymes and antibodies that children need in their early stages of growth. Hence, in the first six months of life, exclusive breastfeeding — the practice of feeding infants breastmilk and no additional food or liquids, including water — is the optimal way of feeding children. Breastfeeding is especially effective in areas with poor sanitation and poor access to safe drinking water because it requires minimal preparation.
“Breastfeeding is a miracle investment. It is a universally available, low-tech, high impact, cost-effective solution for saving babies’ lives.” - UNICEF
Breastfeeding also protects children from the diseases that plague developing regions. A study has determined that breastfed children are less susceptible to diarrhoea and pneumonia and are 14 times more likely to survive than non-breastfed children (Black, 2013).
Source:
- Black, Robert E., et al. "Maternal and Child Undernutrition and Overweight in Low-Income and Middle-income Countries." The Lancet 382, no. 9890 (August 3, 2013): 427-51.
- "The First 1,000 Days of Life: The Brain's Window of Opportunity." UNICEF-IRC. Accessed June 1, 2018. https://www.unicef-irc.org/article/958-the-first-1000-days-of-life-the-brains-window-of-opportunity.html.
- "Improving Breastfeeding, Complementary Foods and Feeding Practices." UNICEF. May 01, 2018. Accessed June 1, 2018. https://www.unicef.org/nutrition/index_breastfeeding.html.