Table 1 WHO definitions for infant feeding (WHO, 2008)
From: Questioning current definitions for breastfeeding research
Feeding category | Infant receives | May include | Does not include |
|---|---|---|---|
Exclusive breastfeeding | Breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) | ORS, drops, syrups (vitamins, minerals, medicines) | Anything else |
Predominant breastfeeding | Breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) as the predominant source of nourishment | Certain liquids (water and water-based drinks, fruit juice), ritual fluids and ORS, drops or syrups (vitamins, minerals, medicines) | Anything else (in particular, non-human milk, food-based fluids) |
Complementary feeding | Breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) and solid or semi-solid foods | Anything else: any food or liquid including non-human milk and formula | NA |
Breastfeeding | Breast milk (including milk expressed or from a wet nurse) and solid or semi-solid foods | Anything else: any food or liquid including non-human milk and formula | NA |
Bottle-feeding | Any liquid (including breast milk) or semi-solid food from a bottle with nipple/teat | Anything else: any food or liquid including non-human milk and formula | NA |