World Breastfeeding Week highlights rising risks of feeding with sweetened condensed milk

As World Breastfeeding Week raises awareness, health experts warn against the continued use of sweetened condensed milk in infant and toddler diets, emphasising the importance of balanced nutrition and appropriate feeding practices after six months.

World Breastfeeding Week, marked from August 1 to 7, is intended to reaffirm the value of breast milk in the earliest months of life, but it also draws attention to what comes next: the shift to complementary feeding once a child reaches 6 months. Health bodies including the World Health Organization and the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention say infants should receive breast milk exclusively for about the first six months, then begin safe, age-appropriate solid foods while breastfeeding continues.

That guidance matters because the first foods a child receives can shape eating habits for years. Paediatric specialist Tetty Yuniati said in a webinar that once exclusive breastfeeding ends, parents should move to balanced complementary meals rather than assume a plumper child is automatically a healthier child. She warned that excessive weight in childhood can raise the risk of non-communicable disease later in life and urged parents to track growth using standard growth charts rather than relying on appearance alone.

A particular concern is the continued use of sweetened condensed milk in infant and toddler feeding. According to the report from Universitas Islam Bandung cited in the lead article, 1.78% of parents said they used it as part of complementary feeding and 50.8% said they began giving it to children aged 1 to 3. Nutrition references describe sweetened condensed milk as a sugary, calorie-dense product that is not suitable as a routine drink for infants or young children, and regular use can contribute to excess sugar intake, weight gain and dental problems.

Health specialists say parents who need a milk supplement for a child should choose a product designed for infant or toddler nutrition rather than treating sweetened condensed milk as a substitute. The wider message from breastfeeding guidance is straightforward: breast milk for the first 6 months, careful introduction of complementary foods after that and a focus on balanced nutrition rather than sweetness or bulk.