Despite these limitations, this study highlights the barriers to exclusive breastfeeding practices in Laputta, Myanmar. While almost all women understood the meaning of exclusive breast- feeding, many did not practice it, and introduced solid foods and liquids before their children were 6 months of age. This practice was mainly driven by the belief that foods such as water, thannaka and rice were important for the health and development of babies. Educational campaigns should emphasize that breast milk can provide complete nutrition for the baby within the first 6 months. This study demonstrated gaps in knowledge and practice among breastfeeding mothers and their family members who participate in decision-making. This suggests that messages should be targeted to grandmothers, husbands, other family members, and commu- nities more generally, not only to women of reproductive age. Past work in Laputta township by an NGO (Merlin) found that behav- ioral change communication through the use of Positive Deviants was successful in improving various practices related to maternal and child health, including exclusive breastfeeding and maternal eating habits (Shafique, 2007). This type of approach could be expanded to address other barriers to breastfeeding, given that has been previously been successful in this same region.