gestillt

Gestillt is a term used in Swedish to describe an infant who is breastfed. It denotes the current feeding state or practice, as in a child who is gestillt, and is commonly found in medical notes, parental guidance, and public health discussions. The related noun gestillning refers to the practice of breastfeeding, while the adjective gestillt describes the infant’s status.

In Swedish terminology, breastfeeding can be described in different ways. Exklusiv gestillning refers to exclusive breastfeeding, where the infant receives only breast milk (with exceptions for medicines or vitamins) and no other liquids or solids. Gestillning can continue alongside the introduction of complementary foods, and many caregivers and health professionals discuss ongoing gestillt status beyond infancy.

Health and nutrition context includes the typical benefits associated with breastfeeding, such as access to nutrients and immune factors that support early development. Breastfeeding duration and patterns vary; guidelines often promote exclusive gestillning for a period followed by continued gestillning alongside solid foods, as desired by the child and caregiver. Challenges can include latch difficulties, perceived low milk supply, or social and logistical factors influencing continuation, for which professional support may help.

Societal and policy contexts emphasize support for breastfeeding through parental leave, healthcare services, and cultural norms. The term gestillt thus captures both the method of infant feeding and its presence as a chosen or feasible feeding practice within families and healthcare systems.

See also: Breastfeeding, Weaning, Infant nutrition.