It’s scientifically proven that food preferences established in early childhood have been shown to track into adulthood¹. Those early days and planning properly are absolutely crucial, because it allows Mums to impose good habits on their babies that can last into adulthood. It’s what you do at the beginning that counts and it can have a long lasting effect²`³`⁴.
Information on setting healthy habits
But, there could be a problem for some Mums. While having a plethora of information at their fingertips Mum’s don’t always get recommended weaningguides and reading on healthy eating habits, from scientifically researched and supported backgrounds. What materials are the right ones to look at?
At Nutricia Early Life Nutrition we are focused on ensuring healthcare professionals are aware of the challenges and the factors facing Mums at a critical time — the weaning period.
It’s crucial to start setting good healthy eating habits and we want healthcare professionals to have access to our e-modules, guides, and articles on our websiteto help them support their patients.
Understanding the critical weaning stage
The Department of Health (DH) recommends that healthy term infants need no nutrition other than breast milk or formula milk until six months of age⁵. Research shows that between four and seven months, infants are sensitive to accepting new flavours and textures⁶. Food neophobia, a reluctance to accept new foods, is displayed during infancy and into early childhood, peaking between two and five years of age⁷. Therefore, this transitional period of weaning from milk to solid foods is a critical window in the development of taste preferences.
Dr Josh, a GP from Islington, London, suggests that due to the volume of materials readily available to his patients, an increasing part of his day-to-day responsibility is to advise Mums on the best research materials they should be reading. Failure to do so can result in them consuming incorrect advice.
“Healthcare professionals must understand when recommending materials the who, what and the why of how they came about,” Dr Josh explains. “Who is responsible for this piece of information and can you validate it? What purpose is it serving and why does it exist? Is it evidence-based and is the source reputable? The more you challenge the resource the more confidence you can have in it. If you are confident in the resource it can become an important tool in your relationship with our patient.”
The diet of infants and young children can not only determine their health during childhood but can also influence the type of foods that they prefer in later life and, consequently, contributes to their long-term health²`³.
The following guides are here to help healthcare professionals support Mums on weaning and toddler nutrition:
Developing Healthy Eating Habits
Good early nutrition choices can impact lifelong eating habits. The diet of infants and young children not only determine their health during childhood but can also influence the type of foods that they prefer in later life and, consequently, contributes to their long-term health²`³`⁴.
A topic in 10 questions: weaning the child with cows’ milk allergy
Allergy expert Dr Carina Venter offers advice on weaning infants with cows’ milk allergy.
Encouraging infants and young children to eat vegetables: practical tips
Dr Alison Fildes is a Research Psychologist with an interest in the development and modification of food preferences in early childhood. Here she presents six practical tips to encourage infants and young children to eat vegetables.
The Importance of Vitamin D
This guide underlines the importance of vitamin D for infants and young children, and provides a steer on dietary sources of vitamin to ensure they get their daily Reference Nutrient Intake (RNI).
Toddler development & feeding challenges — part 1
Part one of our article written by Dr Gillian Harris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at The Children’s Hospital, Birmingham. Dr Harris carries out research into feeding and eating problems in infants and toddlers.
Toddler development & feeding challenges — part 2
Part two of our article written by Dr Gillian Harris, Consultant Clinical Psychologist at The Children’s Hospital, Birmingham. Dr Harris provides further feeding advice based on her research into eating problems in infants and toddlers.
Weaning
This e-module provides an overview of an infant’s physiology and their nutritional requirements. It also explains the weaning process and recommended supplements. READ MORE
Our Careline
Our free healthcare professional helpline is open from 8am to 8pm, Monday to Friday. Just phone 0800 996 1234 for expert advice on infant feeding and nutrition, including common infant feeding problems such as cows’ milk allergy, colic, constipation and reflux.
“We take calls from GPs, nutritionists, dietitians, midwives, health visitors…”
IMPORTANT NOTICE: Breastfeeding is best for babies. Infant formula is suitable from birth when babies are not breastfed. Follow-on milk is only for babies over 6 months, as part of a mixed diet and should not be used as a breastmilk substitute before 6 months. We advise that all formula milks including the decision to start weaning should be made on the advice of a doctor, midwife, health visitor, public health nurse, dietitian, pharmacist or other professional responsible for maternal and child care. Foods for special medical purposes should only be used under medical supervision. May be suitable for use as the sole source of nutrition for infants from birth, and/or as part of a balanced diet from 6–12 months. Refer to label for details.
