The guiding principles presented here are intended to serve as a starting point for organizing sustained pragmatic interventions that will ensure appropriate feeding and care for infants and young children at all stages of an organized emergency response. Responsible national authorities and concerned international and nongovernmental organizations are invited to use these guiding principles as a basis for training personnel responsible for emergency preparedness and response, and for reacting directly on behalf of needy populations during emergencies. Meeting the specific nutritional requirements of infants and young children, including promoting and supporting optimal feeding practices, should be a routine part of any emergency relief response. Indeed, it should be at the center of efforts to protect the right of affected children to food and a productive life.