POLICY STATEMENT |
Considerable advances have occurred in recent years in the scientific knowledge of the benefits of breastfeeding, the mechanisms underlying these benefits, and in the clinical management of breastfeeding. This policy statement on breastfeeding replaces the 1997 policy statement of the American Academy of Pediatrics and reflects this newer knowledge and the supporting publications. The benefits of breastfeeding for the infant, the mother, and the community are summarized, and recommendations to guide the pediatrician and other health care professionals in assisting mothers in the initiation and maintenance of breastfeeding for healthy term infants and high-risk infants are presented. The policy statement delineates various ways in which pediatricians can promote, protect, and support breastfeeding not only in their individual practices but also in the hospital, medical school, community, and nation.
Key Words: breast breastfeeding breast milk human milk lactation
Abbreviations: AAP, American Academy of Pediatrics WIC, Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children CMV, cytomegalovirus G6PD, glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase
The following policy statement has been revised:
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
L. Kuhn, G. M. Aldrovandi, M. Sinkala, C. Kankasa, K. Semrau, M. Mwiya, P. Kasonde, N. Scott, C. Vwalika, J. Walter, et al. Effects of Early, Abrupt Weaning on HIV-free Survival of Children in Zambia N. Engl. J. Med., July 10, 2008; 359(2): 130 - 141. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. M. Rogero, J. Tirapegui, M. A. R. Vinolo, M. C. Borges, I. A. de Castro, I. S. d. O. Pires, and P. Borelli Dietary Glutamine Supplementation Increases the Activity of Peritoneal Macrophages and Hemopoiesis in Early-Weaned Mice Inoculated with Mycobacterium bovis Bacillus Calmette-Guerin J. Nutr., July 1, 2008; 138(7): 1343 - 1348. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. M. Gordon, H. A. Feldman, L. Sinclair, A. L. Williams, P. K. Kleinman, J. Perez-Rossello, and J. E. Cox Prevalence of Vitamin D Deficiency Among Healthy Infants and Toddlers Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med, June 1, 2008; 162(6): 505 - 512. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. T. COOK and D. A. FRANK Food Security, Poverty, and Human Development in the United States Ann. N.Y. Acad. Sci., June 1, 2008; 1136(1): 193 - 209. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Kronborg, M. Vaeth, J. Olsen, and I. Harder Health visitors and breastfeeding support: influence of knowledge and self-efficacy Eur J Public Health, June 1, 2008; 18(3): 283 - 288. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. S. Hawkins, K. Lamb, T. J Cole, C. Law, and the Millennium Cohort Study Child Health Group Influence of moving to the UK on maternal health behaviours: prospective cohort study BMJ, May 10, 2008; 336(7652): 1052 - 1055. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. H. Schwartz and K. L. Guthrie Infant Pacifiers: An Overview Clinical Pediatrics, May 1, 2008; 47(4): 327 - 331. [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Bishara, M. S. Dunn, S. E. Merko, and P. Darling Nutrient Composition of Hindmilk Produced by Mothers of Very Low Birth Weight Infants Born at Less Than 28 Weeks' Gestation J Hum Lact, May 1, 2008; 24(2): 159 - 167. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. McCarter-Spaulding Is Breastfeeding Fair? Tensions in Feminist Perspectives on Breastfeeding and the Family J Hum Lact, May 1, 2008; 24(2): 206 - 212. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. C. Chin, L. Myers, and J. H. Magnus Race, Education, and Breastfeeding Initiation in Louisiana, 2000-2004 J Hum Lact, May 1, 2008; 24(2): 175 - 185. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. D. Soltau and R. L. Schelonka Immune Modification to Prevent Nosocomial Sepsis in Hospitalized Newborns NeoReviews, May 1, 2008; 9(5): e199 - e205. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Mok, C. Multon, L. Piguel, E. Barroso, V. Goua, P. Christin, M.-J. Perez, and R. Hankard Decreased Full Breastfeeding, Altered Practices, Perceptions, and Infant Weight Change of Prepregnant Obese Women: A Need for Extra Support Pediatrics, May 1, 2008; 121(5): e1319 - e1324. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. L. O'Connor, S. Khan, K. Weishuhn, J. Vaughan, A. Jefferies, D. M. Campbell, E. Asztalos, M. Feldman, J. Rovet, C. Westall, et al. Growth and Nutrient Intakes of Human Milk-Fed Preterm Infants Provided With Extra Energy and Nutrients After Hospital Discharge Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 766 - 776. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. J. Bowdoin A Response to the Expert Committee's Recommendations on the Assessment, Prevention, and Treatment of Child and Adolescent Overweight and Obesity Pediatrics, April 1, 2008; 121(4): 833 - 834. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N P Iyer, R Srinivasan, K Evans, L Ward, W-Y Cheung, and J W A Matthes Impact of an early weighing policy on neonatal hypernatraemic dehydration and breast feeding Arch. Dis. Child., April 1, 2008; 93(4): 297 - 299. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Nash, D. Secker, M. Corey, M. Dunn, and D. L. O'Connor Field Testing of the 2006 World Health Organization Growth Charts From Birth to 2 Years: Assessment of Hospital Undernutrition and Overnutrition Rates and the Usefulness of BMI JPEN J Parenter Enteral Nutr, March 1, 2008; 32(2): 145 - 153. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. G. Woo, L. M. Dolan, A. L. Morrow, S. R. Geraghty, and E. Goodman Breastfeeding Helps Explain Racial and Socioeconomic Status Disparities in Adolescent Adiposity Pediatrics, March 1, 2008; 121(3): e458 - e465. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. Freeman, K. A. Bonuck, and M. Trombley Breastfeeding and Infant Illness in Low-Income, Minority Women: A Prospective Cohort Study of the Dose-Response Relationship J Hum Lact, February 1, 2008; 24(1): 14 - 22. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. A. Nommsen-Rivers, M. J. Heinig, R. J. Cohen, and K. G. Dewey Newborn Wet and Soiled Diaper Counts and Timing of Onset of Lactation as Indicators of Breastfeeding Inadequacy J Hum Lact, February 1, 2008; 24(1): 27 - 33. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. Slusser Atopy and Duration of Breastfeeding Revisited AAP Grand Rounds, January 1, 2008; 19(1): 10 - 11. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. J. Henderson, P. E. Hartmann, J. P. Newnham, and K. Simmer Effect of Preterm Birth and Antenatal Corticosteroid Treatment on Lactogenesis II in Women Pediatrics, January 1, 2008; 121(1): e92 - e100. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. A. Engle, K. M. Tomashek, C. Wallman, and and the Committee on Fetus and Newborn "Late-Preterm" Infants: A Population at Risk Pediatrics, December 1, 2007; 120(6): 1390 - 1401. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Caspi, B. Williams, J. Kim-Cohen, I. W. Craig, B. J. Milne, R. Poulton, L. C. Schalkwyk, A. Taylor, H. Werts, and T. E. Moffitt Moderation of breastfeeding effects on the IQ by genetic variation in fatty acid metabolism PNAS, November 20, 2007; 104(47): 18860 - 18865. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. F. McCann, N. Baydar, and R. L. Williams Breastfeeding Attitudes and Reported Problems in a National Sample of WIC Participants J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 314 - 324. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. Brodribb, A. B. Fallon, D. Hegney, and M. O'Brien Identifying Predictors of the Reasons Women Give for Choosing to Breastfeed J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 338 - 344. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. L. Philipp, M. J. McMahon, S. Davies, T. Santos, and S. Jean-Marie Breastfeeding Information in Nursing Textbooks Needs Improvement J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 345 - 349. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Osbaldiston and L. A. Mingle Characterization of Human Milk Donors J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 350 - 357. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. Feldman-Winter and U. Shaikh Optimizing Breastfeeding Promotion and Support in Adolescent Mothers J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 362 - 367. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. J. Heinig The Burden of Proof: A Commentary on "Is Breast Really Best: Risk and Total Motherhood in the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign" J Hum Lact, November 1, 2007; 23(4): 374 - 376. [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. L. Patel, P. P. Meier, and J. L. Engstrom The Evidence for Use of Human Milk in Very Low-birthweight Preterm Infants NeoReviews, November 1, 2007; 8(11): e459 - e466. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Arslanoglu, G. E. Moro, and G. Boehm Early Supplementation of Prebiotic Oligosaccharides Protects Formula-Fed Infants against Infections during the First 6 Months of Life J. Nutr., November 1, 2007; 137(11): 2420 - 2424. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. J. Spear College Students' Experiences and Attitudes Regarding Middle and High School--Based Breastfeeding Education The Journal of School Nursing, October 1, 2007; 23(5): 276 - 282. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. Iida, P. Auinger, R. J. Billings, and M. Weitzman Association Between Infant Breastfeeding and Early Childhood Caries in the United States Pediatrics, October 1, 2007; 120(4): e944 - e952. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L.-L. Su, Y.-S. Chong, Y.-H. Chan, Y.-S. Chan, D. Fok, K.-T. Tun, F. S P Ng, and M. Rauff Antenatal education and postnatal support strategies for improving rates of exclusive breast feeding: randomised controlled trial BMJ, September 22, 2007; 335(7620): 596 - 596. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. E. Mercier, S. E. Barry, K. Paul, T. V. Delaney, J. D. Horbar, R. C. Wasserman, P. Berry, and J. S. Shaw Improving Newborn Preventive Services at the Birth Hospitalization: A Collaborative, Hospital-Based Quality-Improvement Project Pediatrics, September 1, 2007; 120(3): 481 - 488. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. Akus and M. Bartick Lactation Safety Recommendations and Reliability Compared in 10 Medication Resources Ann. Pharmacother., September 1, 2007; 41(9): 1352 - 1360. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. R. Meier, B. H. Olson, P. Benton, K. Eghtedary, and W. O. Song A Qualitative Evaluation of a Breastfeeding Peer Counselor Program J Hum Lact, August 1, 2007; 23(3): 262 - 268. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. Slusser Breastfeeding and Maternal and Infant Health Outcomes In Developed Countries AAP Grand Rounds, August 1, 2007; 18(2): 15 - 16. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. B. Wolf Is Breast Really Best? Risk and Total Motherhood in the National Breastfeeding Awareness Campaign Journal of Health Politics Policy and Law, August 1, 2007; 32(4): 595 - 636. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. A. Kendall-Tackett Violence Against Women and the Perinatal Period: The Impact of Lifetime Violence and Abuse on Pregnancy, Postpartum, and Breastfeeding Trauma Violence Abuse, July 1, 2007; 8(3): 344 - 353. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Cash La Leche League International: From local support group to 8,000 volunteers in more than 70 countries, this `mother-to-mother program' touts breastfeeding achievements of the past 50 years AAP News, July 1, 2007; 28(7): 31 - 32. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. G. Piwoz, J. H. Humphrey, N. V. Tavengwa, P. J. Iliff, E. T. Marinda, C. D. Zunguza, K. J. Nathoo, K. Mutasa, L. H. Moulton, and B. J. Ward The Impact of Safer Breastfeeding Practices on Postnatal HIV-1 Transmission in Zimbabwe Am J Public Health, July 1, 2007; 97(7): 1249 - 1254. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. S. Cohen Current Issues in Human Milk Banking NeoReviews, July 1, 2007; 8(7): e289 - e295. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Merewood Breastfeeding: Promotion of a Low-tech Lifesaver NeoReviews, July 1, 2007; 8(7): e296 - e300. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
K. A. Bonuck Paucity of Evidence-Based Research on How to Achieve the Healthy People 2010 Goal of Exclusive Breastfeeding Pediatrics, July 1, 2007; 120(1): 248 - 249. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. P. Gunderson Breastfeeding After Gestational Diabetes Pregnancy: Subsequent obesity and type 2 diabetes in women and their offspring Diabetes Care, July 1, 2007; 30(Supplement_2): S161 - S168. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. van Dommelen, J. P van Wouwe, J. M Breuning-Boers, S. van Buuren, and P. H Verkerk Reference chart for relative weight change to detect hypernatraemic dehydration Arch. Dis. Child., June 1, 2007; 92(6): 490 - 494. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. S. Duke, W. L. Parsons, P. A. Snow, and A. C. Edwards Physicians as mothers: Breastfeeding practices of physician-mothers in Newfoundland and Labrador Can Fam Physician, May 1, 2007; 53(5): 887 - 891. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Merewood, B. Patel, K. N. Newton, L. P. MacAuley, L. B. Chamberlain, P. Francisco, and S. D. Mehta Breastfeeding Duration Rates and Factors Affecting Continued Breastfeeding Among Infants Born at an Inner-City US Baby-Friendly Hospital J Hum Lact, May 1, 2007; 23(2): 157 - 164. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. S. Savage, J. O. Fisher, and L. L. Birch Parental Influence on Eating Behavior: Conception to Adolescence J. Law Med. Ethics, March 1, 2007; 35(1): 22 - 34. [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
H. A. McPhillips, A. E. Burke, K. Sheppard, A. Pallant, F. B. Stapleton, and B. Stanton Toward Creating Family-Friendly Work Environments in Pediatrics: Baseline Data From Pediatric Department Chairs and Pediatric Program Directors Pediatrics, March 1, 2007; 119(3): e596 - e602. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L. N. Haiek, D. L. Gauthier, D. Brosseau, and L. Rocheleau Understanding Breastfeeding Behavior: Rates and Shifts in Patterns in Quebec J Hum Lact, February 1, 2007; 23(1): 24 - 31. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. D. Hill, J. C. Aldag, M. Zinaman, and R. T. Chatterton Predictors of Preterm Infant Feeding Methods and Perceived Insufficient Milk Supply at Week 12 Postpartum J Hum Lact, February 1, 2007; 23(1): 32 - 38. [Abstract] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. Slusser What Determines Duration of Breastfeeding? AAP Grand Rounds, February 1, 2007; 17(2): 21 - 21. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
N. F. Krebs Food Choices to Meet Nutritional Needs of Breast-fed Infants and Toddlers on Mixed Diets J. Nutr., February 1, 2007; 137(2): 511S - 517S. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Jacknowitz, D. Novillo, and L. Tiehen Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children and Infant Feeding Practices Pediatrics, February 1, 2007; 119(2): 281 - 289. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
G. K. Singh, M. D. Kogan, and D. L. Dee Nativity/Immigrant Status, Race/Ethnicity, and Socioeconomic Determinants of Breastfeeding Initiation and Duration in the United States, 2003 Pediatrics, February 1, 2007; 119(Supplement_1): S38 - S46. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. L. Dee, R. Li, L.-C. Lee, and L. M. Grummer-Strawn Associations Between Breastfeeding Practices and Young Children's Language and Motor Skill Development Pediatrics, February 1, 2007; 119(Supplement_1): S92 - S98. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. N. Mattar, Y.-S. Chong, Y.-S. Chan, A. Chew, P. Tan, Y.-H. Chan, and M. H.-J. Rauff Simple Antenatal Preparation to Improve Breastfeeding Practice: A Randomized Controlled Trial Obstet. Gynecol., January 1, 2007; 109(1): 73 - 80. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. de Onis, C. Garza, A. W. Onyango, and E. Borghi Comparison of the WHO Child Growth Standards and the CDC 2000 Growth Charts J. Nutr., January 1, 2007; 137(1): 144 - 148. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
I. M. Paul, E. B. Lehman, C. S. Hollenbeak, and M. J. Maisels Preventable Newborn Readmissions Since Passage of the Newborns' and Mothers' Health Protection Act Pediatrics, December 1, 2006; 118(6): 2349 - 2358. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S M Montgomery, A Ehlin, and A Sacker Breast feeding and resilience against psychosocial stress Arch. Dis. Child., December 1, 2006; 91(12): 990 - 994. [Abstract] [Full Text] |