Each August, World Breastfeeding Week brings a renewed focus to one of the most intimate and complex aspects of early parenting: how we nourish our babies. While public conversations can feel emotionally charged, the science remains remarkably consistent. Breastfeeding is the gold standard for infant feeding, with benefits that extend beyond nutrition.

Breast milk: still the biological gold standard

Human milk is not simply a food, but a biologically active substance that evolves to adapt to an infant’s changing needs. It supports brain development, builds immunity, and reduces the risk of infections, chronic disease, and even obesity later in life (Westerfield et al., 2018; Masi & Stewart, 2024). For mothers, breastfeeding is linked to a reduced risk of breast and ovarian cancer, type 2 diabetes, and cardiovascular disease (Tschiderer et al., 2022; Krbavčić & Vukomanović, 2021).

The leading scientific recommendation is exclusive breastfeeding for about the first six months, which means no food or drink besides breast milk, apart from necessary supplements or medications. After six months, complementary foods can be introduced while breastfeeding continues for up to two years or longer, depending on the needs and wishes of the mother and child (Meek & Noble, 2022; Hörnell & Lagström, 2024).

Feeding with science, not shame

These guidelines reflect decades of research into the lifelong health effects of early feeding. However, science also recognizes the social reality: not all families breastfeed, and not always because they can’t. Some make a different choice, for personal, emotional, or practical reasons. What’s essential is that families have access to accurate, judgment-free information so they can make the best decision for their circumstances. When breastfeeding is not possible or not chosen, commercial infant formula is a safe and nutritionally adequate alternative. While it doesn’t replicate the immune and hormonal components of human milk, it supports normal growth and development when prepared and used properly (Martin et al., 2016). Homemade formulas, on the other hand, are strongly discouraged due to safety risks.

The question, then, is not whether breastfeeding is beneficial, it is. The question is how to ensure families can access the support and conditions they need to breastfeed if they want to. That includes prenatal education, hospital practices that prioritize early skin-to-skin contact, and ongoing help from trained professionals (Sayres & Visentin, 2018; Jack et al., 2024). It also means removing structural barriers, from paid parental leave to workplace accommodations, that continue to limit families’ choices.

The takeaway

Breastfeeding remains the most effective way to support infant and maternal health, and deserves strong, sustained support from healthcare systems and society. But informed choice also matters. In this Breastfeeding Week, let’s center evidence, respect diverse paths, and make sure no parent has to choose between science and support.

References

• Hörnell, A., & Lagström, H. (2024). Infant feeding—a scoping review for Nordic Nutrition Recommendations 2023. Food & Nutrition Research, 68. https://doi.org/10.29219/fnr.v68.10456
• Jack, A., Mullin, C., Brown, E., Burtner, M., Standish, K., Fields, A., Rosen-Carole, C., & Hartman, S. (2024). Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Clinical Protocol #19: Breastfeeding Promotion in the Prenatal Period (Revised 2024). Breastfeeding medicine : the official journal of the Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, 19 8, 575-587. https://doi.org/10.1089/bfm.2024.0203
• Krbavčić, I., & Vukomanović, A. (2021). Breastfeeding: Health benefits and dietary recommendations. Hrvatski časopis za prehrambenu tehnologiju, biotehnologiju i nutricionizam. https://doi.org/10.31895/hcptbn.16.1-2.1
• Martin, C., Ling, P., & Blackburn, G. (2016). Review of Infant Feeding: Key Features of Breast Milk and Infant Formula. Nutrients, 8. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu8050279
• Masi, A., & Stewart, C. (2024). Role of breastfeeding in disease prevention. Microbial Biotechnology, 17. https://doi.org/10.1111/1751-7915.14520
• Meek, J., & Noble, L. (2022). Technical Report: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics, 150 1. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2022-057989
• Sayres, S., & Visentin, L. (2018). Breastfeeding: uncovering barriers and offering solutions. Current Opinion in Pediatrics, 30, 591–596. https://doi.org/10.1097/MOP.0000000000000647
• Tschiderer, L., Seekircher, L., Kunutsor, S., Peters, S., O’Keeffe, L., & Willeit, P. (2022). Breastfeeding Is Associated With a Reduced Maternal Cardiovascular Risk: Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis Involving Data From 8 Studies and 1 192 700 Parous Women. Journal of the American Heart Association: Cardiovascular and Cerebrovascular Disease, 11. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.121.022746
• Westerfield, K., Koenig, K., & Oh, R. (2018). Breastfeeding: Common Questions and Answers. American family physician, 98 6, 368-373.

Elisabeth Torras-Gómez

Lecturer at the Sociology Department, University of Barcelona