Healthy feeding practices
Nutritious food and healthy eating habits lay the foundation for lifelong health. Breastfeeding is a major part of that, proven to reduce child mortality and deliver unparalleled health benefits.
Why focus on this?
Breastfeeding has clear benefits for children’s health, in both the short and long term. However, it can be challenging, and mothers need support to establish and sustain it.
Caregiver feeding practices can be even more important to young children’s nutrition than the availability of healthy food in the household. Economists estimate that stunting reduces GDP in some countries by up to 10%. But not all caregivers understand the importance of (or how to access) a healthy mix of foods for a young child or how to respond sensitively to a child’s hunger cues and encourage her to eat. Even when they do, economic and other challenges pose significant barriers to access. Learn more about the relationship between breastfeeding and healthy development, and the long-term consequences of inadequate nutrition – for children and economies alike.
Sample indicators
Number and percentage of:
- New-borns who are put to the breast within one hour of birth
- Children under five years of age who are stunted
- Children under five years of age who are overweight