Infant Feeding Practices: A Cross-Sectional Study of Barriers and Associated Factors

Background: Appropriate infant feeding practices are essential for child growth, development, and health. However, cultural beliefs, family influence, and practical barriers may affect the adoption of recommended breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices. Objective: To assess breastfeeding and complementary feeding practices among mothers and examine associations between complementary feeding patterns and selected sociodemographic characteristics. Methods: A community-based cross-sectional study was conducted during January 2026 to June 2026 among 340 mothers of children aged less than one year from selected urban areas of Chandigarh and Jalandhar District, Punjab, India. Data were collected through face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire covering breastfeeding initiation, prelacteal feeding, colostrum administration, exclusive breastfeeding, bottle feeding, complementary feeding, reported barriers, and counselling needs. Descriptive statistics were used to summarise feeding practices. Associations between complementary-feeding categories and sociodemographic characteristics were assessed using statistical tests. Results: Breastfeeding was initiated within one hour of birth by 64.7% of mothers, while 52.9% reported prelacteal feeding, most commonly ghutti (40.6%) and honey (37.2%). Colostrum was given to 80.3% of infants. Although 74.7% of mothers had correct awareness of exclusive breastfeeding, 44.7% reported practising it up to the child’s current age. Lack of privacy was the most frequently reported breastfeeding barrier (24.7%). Appropriate complementary feeding was reported for 37.6% of children, while 12.4% were classified as having early initiation. Maternal age (p = 0.008), socioeconomic status (p = 0.0003), and working status (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with complementary-feeding categories; mode of delivery was not (p = 0.666). Family members influenced complementary-feeding decisions for 82.6% of mothers. Conclusion: Suboptimal infant feeding practices and sociocultural barriers were common. Family-centred health education and accessible professional counselling may help improve recommended feeding practices. Further analysis using clearly defined, age-specific indicators is warranted.