American Academy of Family Physicians [offsite link]
"Breastfeeding is the physiological norm for both mothers and their children. The AAFP recommends that all babies, with rare exceptions, be breastfed and/or receive expressed human milk exclusively for about the first six months of life. Breastfeeding should continue with the addition of complementary foods throughout the second half of the first year. Breastfeeding beyond the first year offers considerable benefits to both mother and child, and should continue as long as mutually desired."

American Academy of Pediatrics [offsite link]
The American Academy of Pediatrics Policy Statement, Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk, outlines 8 recommended breastfeeding practices and 12 statements on the role of pediatricians in promoting and protecting breastfeeding. Among other things, they recommend that babies be exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months and that breastfeeding continue for at least 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.

International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners [offsite link]
The International Board of Lactation Consultant Examiners (IBLCE) is a non-profit corporation established to develop and administer a voluntary certification program for lactation consultants. The IBLCE credential certifies attainment of the appropriate standard of competency that has been set by experts in the lactation field.

International Lactation Consultant Association [offsite link]
International Lactation Consultant Association (ILCA) is the professional organization for lactation consultants. It promotes the professional development, advancement, and recognition of lactation consultants worldwide for the benefit of breastfeeding women, infants and children.

La Leche League International [offsite link]
The foremost authority on breastfeeding today has an award-winning website, too! Among other things, you can: locate a local LLL group or accredited Leader in your area, read breastfeeding articles by mothers and breastfeeding experts, browse through the LLL product catalog, get information about breastfeeding and the law, fill out a Breastfeeding Help Form, or attend an online LLL Group meeting.

US Dept. of Health & Human Services [offsite link]
The Blueprint for Action on Breastfeeding introduces an action plan for breastfeeding based on education, training, awareness, support and research that supports the Healthy People 2010 breastfeeding goals: to increase to 75% the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies in the early postpartum period, to increase to 50% the proportion of mothers who breastfeed their babies through 5 to 6 months of age, and for 25% of mothers to breastfeed their babies through the end of one year.

World Health Organization & UNICEF [offsite link]
The World Health Organization (WHO) and UNICEF recommend exclusive breastfeeding from birth for the first 6 months of life and sustained breastfeeding together with adequate complementary foods thereafter for up to 2 years of age or beyond.

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