Most mothers ‘confused’ about when to start weaning children amid conflicting advice, survey finds
Written by News on 22/02/2020
One in three mothers feel pressure to introduce solid foods before their baby is ready, research has found.
Public Health England (PHE) have said mothers feel “confusion” because of conflicting information about weaning.
The YouGov survey of 1,000 mothers found that 63% have received conflicting advice on when to introduce solid foods and 66% feel the people on social media are quick to judge how parents introduce solid foods.
The NHS recommends that most babies should not start solid food until they are around six months old, when they can properly chew and swallow.
But government research found that three-quarters of mothers have already introduced solid foods by the time their baby is five months old.
Mother of two Eliza Fitzpatrick said she wasn’t sure about weaning.
“When it’s your first child you’re quite anxious about getting it right and doing things correctly and I think I sought a lot of help from friends and especially from my mother when I was weaning Olivia.”
With her younger child, Evie, it was different, as she found “a lot more information out there on the internet” about weaning.
“Being a first time mum you do feel the pressures of trying to be a perfect mum all the time. I definitely feel the pressure even now to make sure that I’m giving the right food and the right amount,” she said.
The NHS has launched the Start 4 Life campaign to help parents during pregnancy, including a guide for when to start weaning.
PHE nutritionist Orla Hugueniot said: “Introducing solid foods is an exciting time but while everyone wants the best for their baby’s health, it can feel daunting for many parents – particularly when they feel under pressure to get things right.
“Our weaning hub supports parents by putting the best advice in one place, helping them to cut through the confusion and boost their confidence to enjoy this big milestone in their child’s life.”
(c) Sky News 2020: Most mothers ‘confused’ about when to start weaning children amid conflicting advice, survey finds
