Breastfeeding is the best and most economical way to feed a child and the best way to prevent disease and promote health. Breast milk is fully adapted to all the needs of the baby. It contains more than two hundred ingredients, among which are numerous defensive substances that protect the child from various inflammations and diseases. Modern recommendations regarding the nutrition of infants and young children advocate exclusive breastfeeding for up to 6 months of infancy, and then continue breastfeeding with appropriate supplementation for at least a year or longer, as long as the mother and child want it. Breast milk has various nutritional, defense, psychosocial, practical and economic values. Awareness of the need to promote breastfeeding has resulted in the launch of a number of initiatives and recommendations by the WHO and UNICEF. The composition of breast milk is unique because it contains many nutrients necessary for the physical growth and development of the child, bioactive substances that protect against various diseases and infections, and substances that promote the child's developmental processes. The positive effects of breastfeeding are manifested in the reduction of mortality and morbidity of breastfed children and affect health until adulthood. Breastfeeding protects against gastrointestinal infections, respiratory and urinary tract infections, and middle ear infections. Breastfed children have a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome, obesity, diabetes, asthma, cardiovascular diseases, certain malignant diseases of childhood and many other diseases. Breastfeeding also has a positive effect on women's health and contributes to the health and well-being of society as a whole. The maternity ward is a key place to promote breastfeeding, and there are breastfeeding support groups led by a community nurse and a group leader mother. Breastfeeding is a new experience that requires a lot of energy, involvement and commitment from the mother, but also the whole family.