Breastfeeding Around The World
Breastfeeding Around The World: A Cultural Travel from Mongolia to Italy
While breastfeeding is an universal practice, the way it’s done varies dramatically across cultures and society. Understanding the global differences can be fascinating and reassuring. While all parents face pressures relating to parenting standards, it is also a great way to learn about them. The duration, method and even the public perception of breast-feeding can vary greatly from region to region. Some cultures practice extended breastfeeding, while others prefer shorter breastfeeding periods.
From Mongolia to Italy, there are different breastfeeding rituals and expectations around the world. These differences are often a reflection of not only health benefits, but also cultural values and socioeconomic factors which shape each society. This comprehensive guide will take you through the fascinating approaches to breastfeeding that different countries have. It highlights both similarities and unique practices, which can help us understand the global breastfeeding experience.
Mongolian Culture of celebration and community support
In Mongolia, breastfeeding does not only occur between mother and child. It is also a practice celebrated by the entire community. One striking statistic is that 65 percent Mongolian babies exclusively breastfeed for their first six months. This is a higher figure than the global average, and speaks volumes about the importance of breastfeeding in Mongolia. In Mongolia, it’s not uncommon for mothers to continue breastfeeding their children well beyond the age of 2.

The public breastfeeding of infants is accepted and encouraged. There are few stigmas attached. In some communities the act of nursing is seen as an expression of maternal love and a vital part of a baby’s development. In some communities, breastmilk can be traded for other essentials like eggs or bread, especially in poorer areas.
In Mongolia, fathers are also known to drink breastmilk that has been expressed by their mothers. It may seem strange to people outside of Mongolia, but this practice highlights the shared and communal nature of motherhood within Mongolian culture.
The Philippines: Government mandated breastfeeding support
The Philippines has taken strong legal measures to promote breastfeeding for infants as the preferred method. The “Milk Code” is the name of the regulations that require mothers to breastfeed for at least two years and ban the advertising of infant formula. This policy is a reflection of a deep-seated belief in the benefits of breastfeeding. It’s not only a personal decision, but also a priority for national health.
The Philippines have introduced “lactation ceremonies” to support mothers who are breastfeeding. This tradition uses broken papaya and sugar cane stalks to stimulate milk through gentle strokes. This natural support reflects the Filipino cultural belief that breastfeeding is not a solitary task, but is supported by local traditions and natural remedies.
In addition to lactation consultants, the Philippines has a wide range of support groups for new parents and support groups. In many areas of the Philippines, breastfeeding is seen as an important part of family life and mothers are encouraged in this practice. The Philippine government offers maternity leave, which allows mothers to exclusively breastfeed for the first few weeks. This ensures that they can care for their babies without being pressured to return to work too soon. Breastfeeding is a cultural practice that has a strong connection to family well-being. It’s viewed as an important part of mother-child bonds. In the Philippines, breastfeeding is no longer just a health issue, but rather a practice that is supported and celebrated by all levels of society.
Kenya: Overcoming challenges to boost breastfeeding rates
Over the past few decades, Kenyan breastfeeding practices have improved significantly. In 2003, only 13% of Kenyan women exclusively breastfed their babies for the first 6 months. With a public health campaign aimed at educating mothers on the benefits of breastfeeding the figure increased to 61 per cent.
Kenyan mothers have traditionally found it difficult to exclusively breastfeed due to challenges such as poverty, insufficient maternity leave and social pressures to go back to work shortly after giving birth. The growing recognition of breastfeeding in Kenya has started to change the reality. Kenyan laws were implemented in 2013 to ensure that breastfeeding mothers are protected at work and given the time they need to breastfeed their children. This change makes it easier for mothers who work to continue breastfeeding, and the whole country to reap its benefits.
Rwanda: Breastfeeding Success Story Despite HIV Challenges
Rwanda, a nation with a turbulent history due to the HIV/AIDS outbreak, is now a world leader in breastfeeding. It boasts the world’s highest breastfeeding rate, with 90% of mothers nursing their children. This is a remarkable statistic, particularly when you consider the difficulties Rwanda faced during its HIV crisis. The disease had a devastating effect on both mothers and children.
Rwanda has dramatically improved the health of both mothers and babies through international efforts. Rwanda is one of few countries that pays working mothers for maternity leave so they can breastfeed. These policies have helped Rwanda to promote breastfeeding despite significant health challenges.

Bangladesh: a culture of extended breastfeeding
In Bangladesh, breastfeeding not only is the norm, but it’s also a part of culture. According to the World Health Organization, the average age of weaning in Bangladesh is 33-months. This is higher than the global norm. In Bangladesh, extended breastfeeding can last up to three year. It is estimated that 95 percent of 1-year-olds, and 91 per cent of 2-year-olds are still breastfed.
In Bangladeshi tradition, the introduction to solid food is a milestone. It is often marked with a special custom whereby a baby receives six grains of white rice. This gesture honors both the baby’s initial step into solid food and the practice of breastfeeding. These cultural rituals reinforce breastfeeding’s role in infant nutrition, and strengthen its bonding and positive perception.
Australia: Mixed Approaches to Breastfeeding
According to the National Infant Feeding Survey, Australia has made great strides in encouraging breastfeeding. 96 percent mothers initiate breastfeeding. Despite this high rate of initiation, breastfeeding is less common beyond the newborn stage. Only 39 percent of Australian infants are exclusively breastfed by three months. By five months this number has dropped to 15 percent.
Australia offers many resources and supports to breastfeeding mothers. However, the pressures of modern society and the demands on women’s time contributes to a shorter duration of breastfeeding. This trend highlights how difficult it is for Australian parents to balance competing demands such as work, family and health expectations.
India: Breastfeeding practices in India: Progress and Struggles
India has faced many challenges in the past when it came to breastfeeding. In the past, some cultures discarded colostrum, which is the first milk produced following birth. These practices have thankfully decreased in recent years thanks to education campaigns and support from health organizations.
In spite of this progress, it is still taboo to breastfeed in public in India. In India, 44 percent of mothers breastfeed within one hour after delivery. This is an important indicator of early bonding. India is still making progress in increasing breastfeeding rates. Various states offer lactation support and promote awareness of the importance of exclusively breastfeeding for the first six month of life.
Saudi Arabia: Religious duty meets social expectations
Breastfeeding is a cultural and religious norm in Saudi Arabia. The Quran advises mothers to breastfeed their children or use a wet-nurse for two years. The practice of breastfeeding is often challenged by social expectations and the growing popularity of formula-feeding despite the strong religious backing.
Saudi Arabia has a strict ban on public breastfeeding. Many mothers choose mixed feeding once the baby reaches its first few months. In addition, the fast-paced, modern lifestyle of Saudi Arabia, combined with a limited maternity leave has contributed to a decline in exclusive breastfeeding. Saudi Arabian family values still place a high value on breastfeeding. There is also growing support for breastfeeding to be normalized in public and at work.
Japan’s Breastfeeding Rituals: Modern meets Tradition
Japan is a rich country in tradition and history. It has its own unique approach to breastfeeding. The “breastfeeding mass” is a practice offered by Sotomi Oketani, a group of midwives who are trained to stimulate mothers’ milk production. This practice is a part of a larger set of breastfeeding practices that emphasizes the importance of nurturing mother-child relationships.
In certain regions of Japan, mothers perform “weaning rites” where they paint the breasts with strange faces or shapes in order to discourage their babies from nursing. This method is a culturally significant and gentle way to help kids transition from liquid to solid foods. The importance of breastfeeding to Japan’s culture has not stopped the country from seeing a drop in breastfeeding rates. Many mothers are now opting to use formula as they return back to work.
Brazil is a global leader in breastfeeding support
Brazil is a world leader in breastfeeding promotion, largely due to a public campaign that was launched in the 1980s. The commitment of the country to breastfeeding paid off as infant mortality rates dropped dramatically with increased breastfeeding rates.
Brazil is a country that encourages public breastfeeding and discourages formula feeding. Brazil has even passed laws that prohibit the advertising of infant formula. This ensures that breastfeeding is the first choice for new moms. Brazil also has one of the biggest networks of human breast milk banks that donates breast milk to babies who are in need. This includes orphans, and mothers who cannot breastfeed. Brazil’s case study shows how legal protections and public health initiatives can encourage a culture of breast-feeding and improve outcomes for mothers and babies.
Italy: Shifting away from traditional practices
Over the years, breastfeeding has evolved in Italy. In the past, Italy was known for its strong breastfeeding culture. However, the introduction of infant formula in the 1970s drastically changed parenting practices. Only 19% of Italian women continue breastfeeding past the four- to six-month mark.
In Italian hospitals, formula and bottles are often introduced to newborns shortly after birth. This has led to a decline in breastfeeding rates. In Italy, however, breastfeeding is gaining more support. The Catholic Church in particular advocates it as part natural family values. Despite all these efforts, the public perception in Italy of breastfeeding is still complicated. Many mothers choose formula because it’s convenient or they have cultural expectations.

Conclusion – A World of Diverse Breastfeeding practices
The cultures that practice breastfeeding are as varied as their practices. It’s evident that breastfeeding is approached differently by different cultures. From public breastfeeding celebrations to legal protections of breastfeeding mothers in the Philippines. The challenges and cultural expectations surrounding breastfeeding can be overwhelming, but the global perspective shows that there’s no “one-size-fits-all” solution.
It’s okay if what works for one family doesn’t work for another. It’s important that both mothers and babies are free to make their own decisions, without being judged or put under pressure. These global traditions, whether it is extended breastfeeding in Bangladesh or the public support for mothers in Rwanda, show us how important it is to nurture both mother and baby in ways that are culturally significant and personal.
Breastfeeding, no matter how long or how it is done, will always be a strong bond between mother and baby. Diverse traditions from around the globe serve as a constant reminder that the most important thing is the connection, health and well-being that breastfeeding promotes.