Breast milk is still an important source of nutrition for infants and toddlers between 7 and 24 months of age, but breastfeeding alone can no longer fully meet their energy and nutrient needs, and other nutrient-rich foods must be introduced. At the same time, the development of the gastrointestinal tract and other digestive organs, sensory perception and cognitive-behavioral skills of infants and toddlers between 7 and 24 months of age require opportunities to experience and adapt to a variety of foods through exposure, sensation and experimentation, and to change from passive feeding to independent eating. This process begins at 7 months of age and is completed by 24 months of age. This age group is also unique in that the feeding behaviors of parents and feeders have a significant impact on their nutritional and eating behaviors. Feeding responsively to the needs of infants and toddlers contributes to the formation of healthy eating habits and has long-term and far-reaching effects. Continue breastfeeding and add complementary foods at 6 months of age Breast milk still provides some of the energy, high quality protein, calcium and other important nutrients, as well as various immune protective factors for infants and toddlers after 6 months of age. Continued breastfeeding also still helps to promote the intimate connection between mother and child and promotes infant and toddler development. Therefore, infants and children between 7 and 24 months of age should continue to be breastfed. If breastfeeding is not possible or not enough, formula is needed as a supplement to breast milk. When infants reach 6 months of age, the gastrointestinal tract and other digestive organs are relatively well developed and can digest diverse foods other than breast milk. At the same time, the infant’s oral motor function, taste, smell, touch and other sensory perceptions, as well as psychological, cognitive and behavioral abilities are ready to accept new foods. The introduction of complementary foods at this time will not only meet the nutritional needs of infants, but also meet their psychological needs and promote the development of their sensory, psychological, cognitive and behavioral abilities. (1) Key recommendations ① Infants should continue breastfeeding after 6 months of age and gradually introduce a variety of foods; ② Complementary foods are foods of various natures other than breast milk and/or formula; ③ The time of adding complementary foods should be adjusted under the guidance of a physician if there are special needs; ④ Infants who cannot breastfeed or whose breast milk is insufficient should choose formula as a supplement to breast milk. (2) The benefits of continued breastfeeding for infants and toddlers from 7 to 24 months of age Infants can still get energy and various nutrients from continued breastfeeding after 6 months of age, as well as various immune protective factors such as antibodies and breast milk oligosaccharides, etc. Continued breastfeeding for infants and toddlers from 7 to 24 months of age can significantly reduce diarrhea, otitis media, pneumonia and other infectious diseases; continued breastfeeding can also reduce infant food allergies, atopic dermatitis and other allergic diseases. In addition, breastfed infants will be taller and have less obesity and metabolic diseases when they reach adulthood. At the same time, continued breastfeeding can enhance the emotional connection between mother and child, promote the neurological and psychological development of infants and children, and the longer the breastfeeding time, the more benefits for both mother and infant. Therefore, infants from 7 to 24 months of age should continue breastfeeding and can continue until 2 years of age or older. (3) Definition of complementary foods This guideline defines complementary foods as foods of various traits other than breast milk and/or formula, including a variety of natural solid and liquid foods, and commercialized foods. The current WHO definition of complementary foods: any food and/or beverage other than breast milk (including infant formula, formula for older infants, and water). According to the American Academy of Pediatrics: any food and/or beverage containing nutrients other than breast milk (including infant formula, formula for older infants, but excluding water). According to the European Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition: all solid and/or liquid foods other than breast milk and breast milk substitutes (excluding infant formula and formula for older infants). To promote breastfeeding and to reduce the misconceptions of the public about infant formula, this guideline emphasizes that formula is a breast milk substitute and not a complementary food. If breast milk is sufficient, infants should not add formula after 6 months of age, but must be introduced to a variety of other nutritious foods as a complementary food. (4) Why do we emphasize the addition of complementary foods at 6 months of age The best time to add complementary foods is when the infant reaches 6 months of age. After 6 months of age, exclusive breastfeeding can no longer provide enough energy, as well as key nutrients such as iron, zinc, and vitamin A. Therefore, it is necessary to introduce a variety of nutritious foods in addition to continued breastfeeding. The addition of complementary foods during this period is also consistent with the infant’s oral motility and its ability to accept different tastes and textures of food. Adding complementary foods too early may cause gastrointestinal discomfort due to immaturity of the infant’s digestive system, which may lead to feeding difficulties or increase the risk of infections and allergies. Early introduction of complementary foods is also an important reason for early termination of breastfeeding and is an important risk factor for obesity in childhood and adulthood. Early introduction of complementary foods may also affect the long-term eating behavior of infants and children due to unpleasant managers during feeding. Late addition of complementary foods increases the risk of protein, iron, zinc, iodine, and vitamin A deficiencies in infants and children, which can lead to malnutrition and various deficiency diseases such as iron deficiency anemia, and cause long-term irreversible effects. Late addition of complementary foods may also cause feeding difficulties and increase the risk of food allergies. A small number of infants may require early or delayed introduction of complementary foods due to various special circumstances, such as illness. These infants must be guided by their physicians to choose the time to add complementary foods, but must not be added earlier than 4 months of age and as soon as possible after reaching 6 months of age. (5) The amount of breastfeeding for infants from 7 to 24 months of age In order to ensure the supply of energy and important nutrients such as protein and calcium, the amount of breast milk for infants from 7 to 9 months of age should be no less than 600mL per day, and breastfeeding should be ensured not less than 4 times per day; for infants from 10 to 12 months of age, the amount of breast milk is about 600mL per day, and breastfeeding should be done 4 times per day; and for infants from 13 to 24 months of age, the amount of breast milk is about 500mL per day and breastfeeding no more than 4 times a day. For infants and toddlers who do not have enough breast milk or cannot breastfeed, they need to continue to use formula as a supplement to breast milk after 6 months of age. (6) Selecting dairy products for infants and toddlers from 7 to 24 months of age The protein and mineral content of regular fresh milk, yogurt and cheese is much higher than that of breast milk, which increases the burden on the kidneys of infants and toddlers, so they should not be fed to infants and toddlers from 7 to 12 months of age. Regular soy milk powder and protein powder have a different nutritional composition than formula milk and are not recommended as foods for infants and children because they differ significantly from fresh milk and other dairy products. Lactose-free soy-based formula can be used as a therapeutic diet for infants and children with chronic migratory diarrhea, but should be applied under the guidance of a physician.