Nutrition and physical activity of infants and breastfeeding women. Updated recommendations by Healthy Start - Young Family Network an initiative from IN FORM

Network. Healthy Start - Young Family Network is a component of IN FORM - Germany's national initiative to promote healthy diets and physical activity of the German government and is funded by the Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture. In this nationwide network specialist medical and scientific societies, professional associations and specialized institutions have joined forces in order to accompany and support parents in all aspects surrounding birth, with information on nutrition, physical activity and allergy prevention. Recommendations. The recommendations for action on infant nutrition and nutrition of breastfeeding mothers, which first appeared in 2010 were discussed, revised and a consensus was formulated based on current recommendations of relevant specialist organizations and institutions as well as pertinent scientific publications from members of the scientific advisory committee of the network. These recommendations are to be passed on to young families as practical, routine daily advice and also utilized in the extended training of propagators, supplemented by additional information. The recommendations encompass the topics of breastfeeding, infant formulas, complementary food, beverages ( supplementary fluid intake), learning to eat, diet of breastfeeding women, nutritional supplements for infants and breastfeeding mothers as well as alcohol, smoking and medication during the lactation period. Furthermore, also included are general recommendations on allergy prevention in children and recommendations on physical activity in infancy and for breastfeeding mothers.