Early Life Nutrition and Lifelong Health - Derbyshire Local Medical ...

BMA Board of ScienceCurrent infant feeding practicesThe national Infant feeding survey (IFS) is conducted every five years; the latest data are from2005 131 (see Box 4). These reports provide a wealth of information about variations in feedingpractice, factors that influence the type of milk and duration of milk feeding. They also detailtrends in feeding over time. Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended up to the age of six monthsin the UK. The IFS shows, however, that less than 1 per cent of mothers are exclusivelybreastfeeding at six months. Current guidelines are to introduce solid foods from six months, toprovide a varied diet that includes starchy foods, fruit and vegetables and meat and fish, and toencourage the use of home-prepared rather than commercial baby foods (see Appendix 4).Box 4: The UK Infant feeding survey 2005 findings on breastfeeding• Initial breastfeeding rates in 2005 had increased since 2000 (78% in England, 70% inScotland, 67% in Wales, and 63% in Northern Ireland).• Only 48 per cent of mothers were breastfeeding at six weeks and 25 per cent at six months.45 per cent were breastfeeding exclusively at one week, 21 per cent at six weeks,7 per cent at four months and