Infant feeding practices
Sound infant feeding practices can reduce infant mortality.

Some health services have unwittingly contributed to the decline in breastfeeding by introducing routines and procedures that interfere such as swaddling and bottlefeeding. Vast numbers of infants and young children are still inappropriately fed. This compromises their nutritional status, growth and development, health and very survival. Every year as much as 55% of infant deaths from diarrhoeal disease and acute respiratory infections may be the result of inappropriate feeding practices. A World Health Assembly resolution endorses the WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.

Exclusive breastfeeding and weaning
Less than 35% of infants worldwide are exclusively breastfed for even the first 4 months of life, and complementary feeding practices are frequently ill timed, inappropriate and unsafe. A World Health Assembly resolution recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first 6 months and timely introduction of appropriate foods. This is supported by a recent publication on the nutrient adequacy of exclusive breastfeeding - see publications. 

Tools and publications
The Baby-friendly hospital initiative (BFHI) sets criteria for designating maternity facilities as baby-friendly.  The "Ten steps to successful breastfeeding" is part of this criteria.

A WHO publication on Feeding and nutrition of infants and young children encourages countries to develop national guidelines for feeding 0-3 year olds.

The Innocenti Declaration calls breastfeeding a unique process that provides ideal nutrition for infants and contributes to their healthy growth and development.  WHO made a comparative analysis of implementation of the Innocenti Declaration in WHO European Member States (see Tools).