Abstract
The present article highlights the importance of good complementary feeding practices in achieving optimum health, growth and development of infants and young children. A review of current infant and young child feeding practices in the WHO European Region, focusing particularly on countries of the former Soviet Union and Central Asian Republics, has identified a number of nutritional recommendations from the former Soviet era which differ from international standards. Other countries have no nutrition and feeding guidelines for this age group. A WHO Working Group was therefore established to produce updated recommendations on complementary feeding, which are appropriate for the WHO European Region. The publication Nutrition and feeding guidelines for infants and young children in the WHO European Region, with emphasis on the Former Soviet Countries, is due to be published in autumn 2000
Highlights
Optimum nutrition and good feeding of infants and young children are amongst the most important determinants of their health, growth and development
Good feeding practices will prevent malnutrition and early growth retardation, e.g. stunting, which is common in some parts of the WHO European Region
Theyoung childis especiallyvulnerable to the development of iron deficiency during the period from 6 to 24 months, when the increased nutritional needs resulting from rapid growth, are combined with a diet that may be low in iron and vitamin C, with a high intake of unmodified cows' milk and other inhibitors of iron absorption
Summary
Optimum nutrition and good feeding of infants and young children are amongst the most important determinants of their health, growth and development. Theyoung childis especiallyvulnerable to the development of iron deficiency during the period from 6 to 24 months, when the increased nutritional needs resulting from rapid growth, are combined with a diet that may be low in iron and vitamin C, with a high intake of unmodified cows' milk and other inhibitors of iron absorption. The main findings of the surveys on feeding practices for infants and young childrenin countriesthroughouttheWHO European Region are that: 4 Exclusive breastfeeding is not widely practised 4 Cows' milk is introduced too early 4 Liquids, tea, are introduced too early 4 Semi-solid foods are introduced too early 4 Meat and liver are introduced too late. Tea should be avoided until at least two years of age, and thereafter it should be avoided at mealtimes
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