Innocent Declaration 2005 on Infant and Young Child Feeding

In the 15 years since the adoption of the original Innocenti Declaration in 1990, remarkable progress has been made in improving infant and young child feeding practices worldwide.

Nevertheless, inappropriate feeding practices – sub-optimal or no breastfeeding and inadequate complementary feeding – remain the greatest threat to child health and survival globally. Improved breastfeeding alone could save the lives of more than 3,500 children every day, more than any other preventive intervention.

This declaration adds to the original in declaration made in 1990. It points out challenges that remain and adds five more operational targets to improve infant and young child feeding.