Infant feeding. Policy Statement

The benefits of breastfeeding have been well documented. The composition of human milk is distinct from the milk of other mammals and from infant formula. Human milk is unique in its physical structure and in the types of concentrations of nutrients, enzymes, hormones, growth factors, host resistance factors, inducers/modulators of the immune system, and anti-inflammatory agents. Research has shown that the advantages of breastfeeding include the prevention of gastrointestinal and respiratory illness, and other infections as well as certain immunologic disorders. Breastfeeding also provides benefits to the mother.

Therefore, recognizing that breastfeeding plays an uniquely important role in the healthy development of infants and young children, The College of Family Physicians of Canada endorses The WHO Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding and recognizes that this builds on documents previously endorsed by the CFPC, i.e. the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (1991), the International Code on Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes (1981), and the Innocenti Declaration on the Protection, Promotion and Support of Breastfeeding. (1990).