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The [[WHO]] and [[UNICEF]] recommend recommend that children initiate breastfeeding within the first hour of birth and be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life – — meaning no other foods or liquids are provided, including water. Infants should be breastfed on demand – — that is as often as the child wants, day and night. No bottles, teats or pacifiers should be used. From the age of 6 months, children should begin eating safe and adequate complementary foods while continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years and beyond.<ref>{{REFweb

The [[American Academy of Pediatrics ]] reported that, as compared with formula feeding, breastfeeding reduces [[SIDS|sudden infant death syndrome ]] (SIDS), infant and neonatal mortality, lower respiratory tract infection, severe or persistent diarrhea, otitis media, asthma, eczema, Crohn's disease, colitis, childhood and adult obesity, diabetes, and leukemia.<ref name="aap2022" /> In infancy, simple sugars in breast milk, like antibacterial oligosaccharides, are acquired from the mother's milk and excreted in [[urine]]. University studies have shown that these substances cling to the [[mucosa]]l lining of the inner foreskin and protect against urinary tract infections,<ref>Hanson LA, Karlsson B, Jalil F, et al. Antiviral and antibacterial factors in human milk. In: Hanson LA, ed. ''Biology of Human Milk''. New York Raven Press; 1988. pp. 141-57</ref> as well as [[infection]] in other parts of the body.<ref>Coppa GV, Gabrielli O, Giorgi P, Catassi C, Montanari MP, Veraldo PE, Nichols BL. Preliminary study of breast feeding and bacterial adhesion to uroepithelial cells. ''Lancet'' 1990 Mar 10;335(8689):569-71.</ref> Babies excrete in their [[urine]] about 300-500 milligrams of oligosaccharides each day. These compounds prevent virulent strains of ''Escherichia coli'' from adhering to the [[mucosa]] lining of the entire urinary tract, including the [[foreskin]] and [[glans]]. For these reasons breast-milk is highly efficacious at preventing [[UTI]].<ref>Gothefors L, Olling S, Winberg J. Breastfeeding and biological properties of faecal ''E. coli'' strains. ''Acta Paediatr Scand'' 1975 Nov;54(6):807-12.</ref> Rigorous studies have repeatedly demonstrated that breast feeding protects against urinary tract infections.<ref>Mårild S. Breastfeeding and Urinary Tract Infections. ''Lancet'' 1990;336:942.</ref> <ref>Pisacane A, et al. Breastfeeding and urinary tract infection. ''The Lancet'', July 7, 1990, p50 </ref> <ref>Pisacane A, Graziano L, Mazzarella G, et al. Breast-feeding and urinary tract infection. ''J Pediatr'' 1992;120:87-89.</ref>

There are certain conditions that contraindicate breastfeeding. The [[American Academy of Pediatrics ]] provides a discussion of contraindications.<ref name="aap2022" /> == Video ===== Why is breastfeeding important? ===<youtube>v=yt2pMQjzP50</youtube>

Neonatal [[circumcision]] is a medically unnecessary, non-therapeutic, intensely [[Pain| painful ]] surgery that is carried out just at the time when breastfeeding is being commenced. Circumcision causes extreme [[pain]], [[trauma]], and [[shock]], and disturbs feeding behavior.<ref>{{REFjournal

}}</ref> The newborn infant boy is left in a debilitated state in which he is may be unable to initiate breastfeeding,<ref>{{REFjournal

}}</ref> which frequently results in the introduction substution of formula feeding to the detriment of a boy's health.<ref>{{REFjournal