American Academy of Pediatrics
Dedicated to the health of all children

• Home >
• Families

Families

AAP Policy on Breastfeeding

FAQs

Families Resource Guide

What the AAP Is Doing To Support Families

Families

Breastfeeding is best for babies, mothers, families, our environment, and our communities. The American Academy of Pediatrics is helping to ensure that your baby is born into an environment that is supportive of breastfeeding. We do this by educating pediatricians about the importance of breastfeeding and how they can help you to be successful.

Babies are born ready to learn to breastfeed. During pregnancy a woman's body gains weight and changes to support breastfeeding. Think of the first months of life as the "fourth trimester" where you and your baby get to know each other. Breastfeeding is part of getting to know yourself and your baby on a whole different level.

---

Pediatricians strive to keep your children healthy, and therefore recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and continued breastfeeding for at least 1 year.
– Lori Feldman-Winter, MD, MPH, FAAP