What and how to feed your child changes month by month. Choose an age band for India-specific feeding guidance, based on IYCF, IAP and ICMR recommendations.
Choose your child's age
🤱Exclusive Breastfeeding
Feed only breast milk for the first 6 months — no water, no other food or drink, not even a sip. Breast milk alone meets every need.
🤱 Breastfeeding & milk
Exclusive breastfeeding on demand, day and night. Start within the first hour of birth (early initiation) and give the thick yellow first milk (colostrum) — it is the baby's first vaccine. If a mother cannot breastfeed, an appropriate infant formula prepared with clean boiled water is the only safe alternative; never dilute or over-concentrate it. Avoid bottles where possible (use a clean cup/paladai) to prevent infection and nipple confusion.
⏰ How often
On demand — typically 8–12 feeds in 24 hours, including night feeds; do not space feeds by the clock.
🥣 How much
No measuring needed — let the baby feed until satisfied and the breast softens. Adequacy is shown by 6+ wet nappies a day and steady weight gain.
🍲 Foods to offer
Mother's breast milk only (colostrum first)Nothing else — no water, honey, ghutti, janam-ghutti, gripe water, sugar water, or top milk
🌟 Key nutrients
Complete nutrition from breast milk
Antibodies / immunity (especially colostrum)
Vitamin D (supplement — diet cannot supply enough)
🚫 Best avoided
✕Water or any liquids before 6 months (risk of infection and reduced milk intake)
✕Honey (risk of infant botulism) — never under 1 year
✕Bottle feeding where avoidable; never prop a bottle
✕Pre-lacteal feeds (anything given before the first breastfeed)
💡 Practical tips
✓Initiate breastfeeding within 1 hour of birth and stay skin-to-skin.
✓Practise responsive feeding — feed at early hunger cues (rooting, hand-to-mouth), not only when the baby cries.
✓Ensure a deep latch (mouth covers most of the areola) to prevent sore nipples and ensure good transfer.
✓Feed from one breast fully before switching so the baby gets the richer hindmilk.
✓The breastfeeding mother should eat a balanced diet, stay hydrated, and continue her own iron-folic acid/calcium as advised.
✓Give the IAP-recommended vitamin D supplement (400 IU/day) to all infants, including those exclusively breastfed.
See a doctor if
•Poor weight gain, weight loss, or not regaining birth weight by 2 weeks
•Fewer than 6 wet nappies a day or dark, scanty urine (dehydration)
•Refusing to feed, very sleepy/lethargic, or unable to latch
•No wet nappy for many hours, sunken eyes, or a sunken soft spot (fontanelle)
•Fever, fast or difficult breathing, persistent vomiting, blood in stool, or yellow eyes/skin (jaundice) that is worsening
💊Supplements & national programmes
India runs national programmes that deliver key supplements free through Anganwadi centres, schools, and health facilities. The main ones are iron-folic acid (Anaemia Mukt Bharat), vitamin A prophylaxis, vitamin D (IAP guidance), and twice-yearly deworming (National Deworming Day). Doses below are the standard national figures; always follow your doctor's or ANM/Anganwadi worker's specific advice.
Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) — children 6–59 months
Programme: Anaemia Mukt Bharat (MoHFW)
IFA syrup for children 6–59 months: 1 mL given bi-weekly (twice a week). Each 1 mL contains about 20 mg elemental iron and 100 mcg folic acid. Delivered via ASHA/Anganwadi. Helps prevent the very common iron-deficiency anaemia of early childhood.
Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) — children 5–9 years (WIFS Junior)
Programme: Anaemia Mukt Bharat / WIFS (MoHFW)
School-age children (about 5–9/10 years) receive one weekly pink, sugar-coated IFA tablet containing roughly 45 mg elemental iron and 400 mcg folic acid, given through schools and Anganwadis on a fixed weekly day.
Iron & Folic Acid (IFA) — adolescents 10–19 years (WIFS)
Programme: Weekly Iron Folic Acid Supplementation, WIFS (MoHFW)
Adolescents 10–19 years (in school and out of school) receive one weekly blue IFA tablet containing about 100 mg elemental iron and 500 mcg folic acid, on a fixed day each week. Especially important for adolescent girls to prevent anaemia.
Vitamin A
Programme: National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme (MoHFW)
Total of 9 doses by age 5 years. The 1st dose (1,00,000 IU / 1 lakh IU) is given with the measles-containing vaccine at 9 months. From then, 2,00,000 IU (2 lakh IU) is given every 6 months up to 5 years of age (the 2nd dose at around 16–18 months, then 6-monthly). Protects against vitamin A deficiency and night blindness.
Vitamin D
Programme: IAP (Indian Academy of Pediatrics) recommendation
IAP recommends routine vitamin D supplementation of 400 IU/day for all infants in the first year of life (including exclusively breastfed babies). For older children and adolescents, about 600 IU/day is advised, met through diet, safe sunlight and supplementation as needed. Treatment doses for deficiency/rickets are higher and must be doctor-prescribed.
Deworming (Albendazole)
Programme: National Deworming Day (MoHFW)
Albendazole is given to all children and adolescents aged 1–19 years, twice a year (typically February and August), through Anganwadis and schools. Dose: 400 mg (one full tablet) for age 2 years and above; half tablet (200 mg) for children aged 1 to under 2 years. Tablets should be chewed/crushed for young children. Controls intestinal worms that worsen anaemia and malnutrition.
These are the standard national-programme figures (MoHFW Anaemia Mukt Bharat, National Vitamin A Prophylaxis Programme, WIFS, National Deworming Day) and IAP vitamin D guidance, current as of 2024. Exact products, strengths and schedules can vary slightly by state and over time. This information is for general parent education only and is not a substitute for medical advice — always confirm doses and timing with your child's doctor, ANM, or Anganwadi worker, and follow the immunization card. Children who are sick, premature, low birth weight, or already anaemic may need different, individualised treatment.
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