Since the Baby-friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI) was launched by UNICEF and WHO in 1991-1992, the Initiative has grown, with more than 20,000 hospitals having been designated in 156 countries around the world over the last 15 years. During this time, a number of regional meetings offered guidance and provided opportunities for networking and feedback from dedicated country professionals involved in implementing BFHI. Two of the most recent were held in Spain, for the European region, and Botswana, for the Eastern and Southern African region. Both meetings offered recommendations for updating the Global Criteria, related assessment tools, as well as the “18-hour course”, in light of experience with BFHI since the Initiative began, the guidance provided by the new Global Strategy for Infant and Young Child Feeding, and the challenges posed by the HIV pandemic. The importance of addressing “mother-friendly care” within the Initiative was raised by a number of groups as well.