Can a woman feed her baby while fasting?

All perfect praise be to Allah, The Lord of the Worlds. I testify that there is none worthy of worship except Allah, and that Muhammad is His slave and Messenger.

It is permissible – Allah willing – for a woman to breastfeed her child during fasting. However, if she apprehends any harm for herself or her baby, then she has to break the fast and make up the missed fasts later.

If she breaks the fast because of fearing that it may cause harm to her child, then, in this case, she has to make up the missed days and the guardian of the child has to feed a needy person for each day she failed to fast.

However, if she breaks the fast because of fearing that it may cause harm for herself, or both her child and herself, then she has to make up the missed days only. Allah Says (what means): {…And upon those who are able [to fast, but with hardship] – a ransom [as substitute] of feeding a poor person [each day].} [Quran 2:184]

Ibn Abbas said while explaining the above verse: “The feeding of a poor person was a concession granted to the aged man and woman who were able to fast; they were allowed to break the fast and instead feed an indigent person for each missed fast. If a pregnant woman and a suckling woman apprehends harm to their children, they are allowed to break the fast and feed a poor person instead.” [Abu Daawood]

For more benefit on a woman breaking the fast because of breastfeeding or pregnancy, please refer to Fataawa 353071, 113198, 95501, 86896, and 90726.

Allah knows best.