Breast feeding is widely accepted as the best form of nutrition for infants to ensure a good start in life. Breast milk provides all the nutrients a baby needs, and exclusive breast feeding is recommended for the first six months of life. Six months is the recommended age for the introduction of solid foods for infants. Breast feeding (and/or breast milk substitutes, if used) should continue beyond the first six months along with appropriate types and amounts of solid foods. However, healthcare workers should support mothers who are unable to, or choose not to, follow these recommendations in order to optimise their infants’ nutrition.

Despite the advantages of breast feeding for both the mother and child, British breast feeding rates are amongst the lowest in Europe. Breast feeding is a skill that has to be acquired and it requires practice. New mothers need education and support whilst establishing breast feeding.

• Breast milk is natural and specifically designed for the baby.
• It provides all the nutrients a baby needs for the first six months of life, and contains growth factors and hormones necessary for the baby’s development.
• Breast milk changes in response to the baby’s requirements.
• Antibodies in breast milk offer protection from infections.
• Breast fed babies are five times less likely to be admitted to hospital with infections such as gastroenteritis and respiratory infections.
• Breast milk helps to avoid constipation.
• Breast fed babies are less likely to get allergies such as eczema.

• Breast feeding is free.
• There is no need to sterilise bottles, prepare feeds or keep the baby waiting.
• The mother can breast feed anytime, any place, anywhere.
• The uterus returns to its normal size more rapidly.
• Breast feeding uses up more calories and thus can aid weight loss after pregnancy.
• Breast feeding reduces the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer and ovarian cancer.

Some websites providing information and guidance on infant feeding are listed below.

The Department of Health Policy and guidance on infant nutrition.
www.dh.gov.uk/PolicyAndGuidance

The Department of Health 2003 Infant feeding recommendation and Directory of breast feeding resources.
www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

The Department of Health Birth to five guide for parents provides parents with detailed advice and guidance about infant feeding in ‘the first weeks’ chapter.
www.dh.gov.uk/PublicationsAndStatistics

The DirectGov website has a section dedicated to infant feeding.
www.direct.gov.uk/Audiences/Parents

The Scotland NHS Ready Steady Baby website has detailed sections on breast feeding, bottle feeding, feeding difficulties and introducing family foods.
www.readysteadybaby.org

The BBC Parenting website offers practical advice on breast feeding, bottle feeding and weaning.
www.bbc.co.uk/parenting/your_kids

The National Childbirth Trust offers support in pregnancy, childbirth and early parenthood and aims to give every parent the chance to make informed choices during labour and birth. The section on infant feeding provides information and practical advice on breast and bottle feeding.
www.nctpregnancyandbabycare.com

The TIPS website has been set up by a registered midwife to publish evidence-based information about breast feeding, skincare, cordcare and other midwifery-related subjects.
www.tipslimited.com

The NHS Direct encyclopaedia has detailed advice on breast and bottle feeding.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

NHS Direct has a Frequently asked questions section on feeding and introducing solids.
www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk

BabyCentre is a parenting resource offering practical advice from expert sources, such as obstetricians, paediatricians, doctors, midwives and parents. Breast feeding, formula feeding and starting solids are covered in the baby section.
www.babycentre.co.uk/baby

The Multiple Births Foundation (MBF) and the Twins and Multiple Births Association (TAMBA) have websites providing information about caring for two or more newborn babies.
www.multiplebirths.org.uk        www.tamba.org.uk

La Leche League(GB) aims to help mothers breast feed through mother-to-mother support, encouragement, information and education. It also aims to promote a better understanding of breast feeding as an important element in the healthy development of the baby and mother.
www.laleche.org.uk

The Association of Breastfeeding Mothers (ABM) is a voluntary organisation that offers support and information to women wishing to breast feed. There is also a 24-hour helpline to a qualified breast feeding counsellor and list of regional support groups.
www.abm.me.uk

The Breastfeeding Network provides information about breast feeding, including access to on-line leaflets on topics such as thrush and breast feeding. In the ‘Getting started’ section there are links to breast feeding websites with line drawings that give tips on how to get the baby latched on correctly.
www.breastfeedingnetwork.org.uk

Baby Milk Action is a non-profit organisation which aims to save lives and to end the avoidable suffering caused by inappropriate infant feeding. Baby Milk Action works within a global network to strengthen independent, transparent and effective controls on the marketing of the baby feeding industry.
www.babymilkaction.org

The NHS Breast feeding website aims to encourage and help mothers to breast feed, and provides resources for healthcare professionals.
www.breastfeeding.nhs.uk

Baby Led Feeding is a resource for parents and professionals about baby led feeding, also known as demand feeding. Topics covered include positioning and attachment of a baby at the breast, potential hazards of giving formula to a breast-fed baby, and causes and solutions for early breast feeding difficulties. This resource has been jointly produced by the Simpson Memorial Maternity Pavilion and the Health Education Board of Scotland, with funding from the Scottish Executive.
www.show.scot.nhs.uk/breastfeed/BabyLed

The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative provides a framework for the implementation of best practice by NHS Trusts and other healthcare facilities, with the aim of ensuring that all parents are helped to make informed decisions about feeding their babies and that they are then supported in their chosen feeding method.
www.babyfriendly.org.uk

The Scottish Breastfeeding Group (SBG) is a multi-disciplinary group representing a range of professional and lay organisations with an interest in promoting breast feeding.
www.scotland.gov.uk/library2

The Community Practitioners and Health Visitors Association (CPHVA) website provides information about the organisation and its work. It also provides a gateway to many other sites that provide information on community nursing, public health and primary healthcare.
www.amicus-cphva.org

The World Health Organization section on infant and young child feeding practices provides a global overview on the topic, with links to the Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding.
www.who.int/nut/inf.htm

The International Code of Marketing of Breastmilk Substitutes is published by the International Baby Food Action Network (IBFAN). IBFAN attempts to ensure that this code is adhered to internationally.
www.ibfan.org/english/resource

The Child Health and Paediatrics specialist library is a virtual library that addresses a wide range of topics related to the health and wellbeing of children. It is primarily aimed at professionals involved in the care of children but also aims to be valuable to anyone seeking information on a wide variety of aspects of child health.
http://libraries.nelh.nhs.uk/childHealth

The Royal College of Midwives is Britain’s professional union of midwives. Its Information Centre provides information and advice on a wide range of midwifery issues.
www.rcm.org.uk

The British Journal of Midwifery archive.
www.intermid.co.uk

The British Medical Journal provides a collection of articles on breast feeding and infant nutrition.
http://bmj.bmjjournals.com

NMAP offers free access to a searchable catalogue of hand-selected and evaluated, quality internet resources for nursing, midwifery and allied health professions.
http://nmap.ac.uk/