According to the AAP, what is the recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding duration?

The recommendation for exclusive breastfeeding duration, as advised by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), is for infants to be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of life. This guidance is based on extensive research demonstrating that exclusive breastfeeding provides optimal nutrition and health benefits during this critical period of development. Breast milk contains all the essential nutrients and antibodies that infants need to grow and thrive, while also helping to protect them from infections and diseases.

After six months, the AAP encourages continued breastfeeding alongside the introduction of complementary foods, which can help support the infant's growing nutritional needs. This recommendation aligns with guidelines from other organizations, such as the World Health Organization, further emphasizing the global consensus on the importance of exclusive breastfeeding during the first half of infancy.

Other choices suggest shorter durations for exclusive breastfeeding, which do not meet the established evidence-based guidelines supporting the six-month period as optimal for infant health and development.