Introduction: More and better knowledge and attitudes towards breastfeeding mothers in the postpartum period increases confidence and success. This study aimed to determine the effect of exclusive breast feeding counseling on knowledge and attitudes of mothers with premature infants.

Methods: This was a randomized clinical trial performed on 124 mothers with premature infants admitted to Fatemieh Hospital, during the years 1393-1394 in a period of 8 months. The samples were randomly divided into two groups of test and control (each n=62). Breastfeed observation and consultation checklists and BASNEF questionnaire, in terms of knowledge and attitude of breastfeeding, were applied. Data were analyzed using independent and paired t-tests and analysis of variance (ANOVA) with SPSS-16.

Results: It was found that the level of knowledge and attitude was not significantly different between both groups before counseling (P<0.05). But, after consultation in the first to fourth months of follow-up this difference was significant (P<0.001) and knowledge and attitude scores were considerably higher.

Conclusion: The results showed that consultation leads to improved continuation of the exclusive breastfeeding, so that it may increase the frequency of breastfeeding to the premature infants and, also, reduces the use of fluids, feeding other than breast milk and formula per day for premature infants.