‘IYCF’-Why it matters?

Malnutrition has been responsible, directly or

indirectly for over 50% of the 10.9 million deaths
annually among children <5 years.

 Over two-thirds of these deaths occur in the 1st. year

of life.
 ‘IYCF’- Policy initiatives

 International Code of Marketing of Breast-milk

Substitutes (1981)

 Innocenti Declaration (1990)

 Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (1991)

 Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child

Feeding (2002)
 ‘IYCF’- Recommended Practices.

01: Inform all pregnant women about the benefits and management of
breastfeeding.
02: Help mothers initiate breastfeeding within a half-hour of birth.
03: Show mothers how to breastfeed and how to maintain lactation, even if
they should be separated from their infants.
04: Give newborn infants no food or drink other than breast milk, unless
medically indicated, for 06 months.
05: Practice rooming-in: allow mothers and infants to remain together 24
hours
a day
06: Encourage breastfeeding on demand.
07: Give no artificial teats or pacifiers* to breastfeeding infants (* also called
dummies and soothers).
08: Foster the establishment of breastfeeding support groups and refer
mothers to them.
 ‘IYCF’- Exclusive/Continues
breastfeeding

 Breastfeeding provides ideal food for the

healthy growth and development of infants

 Infants should be exclusively breastfed for the

first 06 months of life.

 Breastfeeding should be continued with

complementary feeding for at-least 24
months of age.
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 Key Message 1

 Breastfeeding for two years or longer helps

a child to develop and grow strong and
healthy
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Key Message 2
 Starting other foods
in addition to breast
milk at 6 completed
months helps a child
to grow well
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Key Message 3
 Foods that are
thick enough to Just right
stay in the spoon
give more energy
to the child
Too thin
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Key Message 4
 Animal-source foods are especially good for
children, to help them grow strong and lively

cheese

eggs
yoghurt
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Key Message 5
Peas, beans, lentils, nuts and seeds are also
good for children

seeds

Groundnut
lentils paste

beans

peas nuts
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Key Message 6
 Dark-green leaves and yellow-coloured fruits and vegetables
help a child to have healthy eyes and fewer infections

carrot

pumpkin yellow sweet

potato

mango
papaya spinach
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Key Message 7
 A growing child 6 – 8 months needs 2 – 3 meals a day
 A growing child 9 – 24 months needs three to four meals a day
 Plus additional 1 – 2 snacks if the child is hungry:
 Give a variety of foods
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Key Message 8
 A growing child needs increasing amounts
of food
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Key Message 9
 A young child needs to learn to eat:
encourage and give help
… with lots of patience
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Key Message 10
 Encourage children to drink and eat during
illness and provide extra food after illness to
help them recover quickly
 ‘IYCF’- Complementary feeds Protocol for
Children .
 After six months all babies require complementary
foods while breastfeeding continues for up to two
years of age or beyond

 Complementary feeds should be:

 timely

 adequate

 safe

 properly fed
 Amounts of food to offer

Age. Texture. Frequency. Amount of food an average

child will usually eat at each
time meal

06-08 Months Start with thick porridge, well 2-3 meals per day plus frequent Start with 2-3 table spoon full
mashed foods continue with Breastfeeds. Depending on the per feed increasing gradually to
mashed family foods. child appetite 1-2 snacks may 1/2 of a 250 mg cup.
be offered.

09-11 Months. Finely chopped or mashed 3-4 meals per day plus frequent 1/2 of a 250 mg cup/bowl.
foods, and foods that baby can Breastfeeds. Depending on the
pick-up. child appetite 1-2 snacks may
be offered.

12-23 Months. Family foods, chopped or 3-4 meals per day plus frequent 3/4 to one 250 ml. cup/bowl.
mashed foods, if necessary. Breastfeeds. Depending on the
child appetite 1-2 snacks may
be offered.

If baby is not breastfeed, give an addition 1-2 cups of milk per day, and 1-2 extra meals per day.