Parents play a decisive role in ensuring children receive scientific, reasonable dairy intake. Below are seven golden standards of scientific feeding for caregivers to follow.

1. Initiate breastfeeding within one hour after birth

Mothers are encouraged to start breastfeeding as early as possible, ideally within one hour of delivery. Newborns have the strongest sucking reflex at this stage. Early breastfeeding reinforces the sucking reflex, stimulates maternal milk secretion, and promotes uterine contraction.

2. Exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months

Breast milk is the optimal natural food for infants. Exclusive breastfeeding supplies all fluids, energy and nutrients infants need before six months of age. Protective antibodies in breast milk lower the risk of infectious illnesses, improve survival rates in early life, support healthy intestinal microecology, and reduce allergies and gastrointestinal disorders.

Generally, babies under six months do not require extra plain water. However, small amounts of water may be offered if signs of dehydration appear, such as dry lips and dark yellow urine.

3. Continue breastfeeding until the age of two or older

Breast milk remains a vital source of energy and nutrition for young children. It provides over 50% of daily energy requirements for infants aged 6–12 months, along with essential amino acids, high-quality protein, calcium and various immune protective factors.

4. Introduce complementary foods at six months of age

After six months, exclusive breastfeeding alone fails to meet infants’ rising demands for energy and nutrients. Meanwhile, their gastrointestinal and digestive organs become sufficiently mature to tolerate complementary foods.

5. Serve at least four categories of complementary foods

Diversified diets are essential for toddlers aged 6–23 months to meet macro- and micronutrient needs. Every day, provide a minimum of four food groups: meat, vegetables, fruits and staple grains. Tubers, legumes and dairy products are also recommended.

6. Meet the minimum recommended feeding frequency

Daily meal frequency depends on energy requirements, single-meal appetite and food energy density (normally 0.8–1 kcal per gram for toddlers).

- Infants aged 6–8 months: 2–3 meals daily

- Toddlers aged 9–23 months: 3–4 meals daily

7. Offer iron-rich foods as first complementary feeds

The first complementary foods given to infants should be high-energy, iron-fortified options, such as iron-fortified infant rice cereal and minced meat puree.