**6. Conclusion**

Breastfeeding during the first 6 months of infant life represents the cornerstone of building his body and maintaining his health status. Feeding of an infant during this critical period of life has several short-term and long-term effects. So, breastfeeding is recommended exclusively after birth till 6 months; then, the complementary food must be included to meet the increasing nutrients needed. As we know, human milk is the optimal food during this early stage of life. In some cases, infant formulas represent the best alternative for infant feeding which must resemble human milk composition not only in its macronutrients but also in its functionality.
