The Ministry of Women and Child Development will observe World Breastfeeding Week 2026 from August 1 to 7 across the country, with a nationwide campaign aimed at promoting breastfeeding practices and raising awareness among families, communities and healthcare providers.
The theme for this year’s observance is “Breastfeeding for a Sustainable Start in Life: Strengthen What Works.” The campaign will focus on encouraging the early initiation of breastfeeding, exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, and continued breastfeeding up to two years and beyond alongside age-appropriate complementary feeding.
Breastfeeding is considered one of the most effective interventions for improving child survival, healthy growth and cognitive development. The campaign will highlight the importance of initiating breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, often referred to as the “Golden Hour.”
The ministry has emphasised that colostrum—the first milk produced after childbirth—is rich in antibodies and essential nutrients and should be fed to newborns, as it provides early protection against infections.
Health experts recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months, during which infants should receive only breast milk, without water, honey, ghutti, glucose or formula, as breast milk alone meets their nutritional and hydration requirements.
After six months, complementary foods should be be introduced while breastfeeding continues up to two years of age and beyond. Mothers are also encouraged to maintain skin-to-skin contact immediately after birth, breastfeed frequently, and seek support from ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers or healthcare professionals whenever required. Working mothers can express and safely store breast milk to continue feeding their infants.
The campaign will also underline the health benefits of breastfeeding for mothers, including support for postpartum recovery and a lower risk of breast and ovarian cancers, type-2 diabetes and postpartum depression.
The ministry has urged healthcare professionals, community workers, families and citizens to work together to create a supportive environment that enables mothers to breastfeed and gives every child a healthy start in life.
