Start breastfeeding within the first hour after birth, and give only breast milk for the first 6 months, with no other food or drinks, not even water. That is the World Health Organization (WHO) recommendation. Feed on demand, day and night. From 6 months, add solid foods and keep breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond.
This guide covers what WHO recommends, how often a newborn feeds, how to tell your baby is getting enough, what helps with comfortable feeding, and how to keep going when you return to work. Zawadi Baby Shop is a baby shop, not a clinic. For help with feeding, your clinic nurse, midwife or a lactation consultant is the best person to see.
What does WHO recommend for breastfeeding?
WHO recommends breastfeeding from the first hour of life, only breast milk for 6 months, and breastfeeding alongside other foods for up to two years or beyond. WHO says breast milk is safe, clean and contains antibodies that help protect against many common childhood illnesses.
| When | What WHO recommends |
|---|---|
| Straight after birth | Start breastfeeding within the first hour |
| Birth to 6 months | Breast milk only, with no other foods or liquids, including water |
| Every day | Feed on demand: as often as your baby wants, day and night |
| While establishing breastfeeding | Avoid bottles, teats and pacifiers |
| From 6 months | Start safe solid foods and keep breastfeeding for up to two years or beyond |
Not every mother can breastfeed, and some choose not to. If that is you, your clinic can advise on feeding your baby safely. If you have a health condition or take medicine, ask your clinic whether it affects breastfeeding.
How often should a newborn breastfeed?
A newborn should breastfeed on demand, which means as often as they want, day and night. WHO recommends this rather than a fixed timetable. In the early weeks that can feel like feeding almost all the time, and that is common.
Many mothers learn to spot early hunger signs, such as turning the head and opening the mouth, sucking on hands, or lip smacking. Feeding at these signs is often easier than waiting until your baby is crying hard. If your newborn is very sleepy and not waking for feeds, see your clinic.
How do you know if your baby is getting enough breast milk?
The most reliable check is your baby’s weight at clinic visits, so keep every appointment in the first weeks. Day to day, regular wet and dirty diapers, and a baby who seems content after most feeds, are good signs.
See your clinic if you are worried about how your baby is feeding, if they have fewer wet diapers than usual, or if they seem unwell. Our diaper guide covers sizes for those early weeks.
What helps with latching and comfortable breastfeeding?
A good latch and a comfortable position make the biggest difference. A nurse, midwife or lactation consultant can watch a feed and show you how to help your baby take in enough of the breast. Ask for this help before you leave hospital if you can.
Many mothers use a nursing pillow to bring the baby up to breast height, so they are not leaning forward for long feeds. A U-shaped nursing pillow wraps around your waist and supports your arms. Use it only while you are awake and feeding, and never leave your baby to sleep on it.
U-shaped pillow with an adjustable strap, wraps around the waist.
KSh 1,300
Lipa na M-Pesa Delivery across Kenya
Some tenderness in the first days is common. See your clinic if pain carries on through feeds, if your nipples crack or bleed, or if part of a breast becomes red, hot and painful, or you feel feverish.
What do you need for breastfeeding?
You need very little to breastfeed, but a few items make long days easier. These are the ones mothers most often buy:
- A nursing pillow to support your baby and your arms during feeds.
- Comfortable nursing bras that open easily at the front.
- Breast pads to keep leaks off your clothes.
- A nipple cream, such as lanolin nipple cream, which some mothers use on dry skin between feeds.
- A breast pump and milk storage, if you plan to express milk.
You can see them together in our breastfeeding accessories range.
Can you keep breastfeeding when you go back to work?
Yes. Many mothers keep breastfeeding after returning to work by expressing milk during the day, so a carer can give it to the baby while they are away. Breastfeeding at home in the mornings, evenings and at night keeps you and your baby close.
- Start practising with a breast pump a few weeks before you go back.
- Talk to your employer about a private, clean place and time to express.
- Store expressed milk in clean, closed containers or storage bags in the fridge or freezer, labelled with the date.
- Ask your clinic how long expressed milk keeps, and how your carer should give it to your baby.
Our guide to choosing a breast pump compares manual, electric and wearable pumps, and you can see every model in our breast pumps range. A manual pump costs KES 1,000 at Zawadi Baby Shop as of September 2026.
Hand-operated pump: you control the suction speed and strength.
KSh 1,000
Lipa na M-Pesa Delivery across Kenya
Where can you buy breastfeeding essentials in Nairobi?
You can buy nursing pillows, breast pumps and milk storage at Zawadi Baby Shop, Shop F12, IBEA Building, Moi Avenue, Nairobi. We are open Monday to Saturday 8:30am to 7pm, and Sunday 11am to 6pm. Call or WhatsApp 0706 561 855 to check stock before you visit.
You can also order online, pay with Lipa na M-Pesa, and we deliver across Kenya. When your baby reaches 6 months, our guide to introducing solid foods covers the next step.
Frequently asked questions
How long should I breastfeed my baby?
The World Health Organization recommends breast milk only for the first 6 months, then breastfeeding alongside solid foods for up to two years or beyond. Every family is different, so talk to your clinic about what works for you and your baby.
Can I give my baby water before 6 months?
The World Health Organization recommends breast milk only for the first 6 months, with no other foods or liquids, including water. If you are worried your baby is thirsty or unwell, especially in hot weather, see your clinic.
How often should a newborn breastfeed?
On demand, which means as often as your baby wants, day and night, as the World Health Organization recommends. Newborns often feed many times a day. If your baby is very sleepy and not waking for feeds, see your clinic.
What if I cannot breastfeed?
Not every mother can breastfeed, and some choose not to. Your clinic can advise you on feeding your baby safely, including how to prepare feeds and keep bottles clean. Ask for that advice before you leave hospital if you can.
Do I need a breast pump?
Not every mother does. A breast pump helps if you will be away from your baby, for example after returning to work, or if your clinic advises expressing. A manual pump suits occasional use; electric pumps suit regular expressing.
