Dr. Karen Matvienko-Sikar:

Our study team did not specifically look at outcomes of breastfeeding. There is a considerable body of national and international evidence which links breastfeeding initiation and duration with later weight outcomes. Our intervention is looking at early breastfeeding and the complementary feeding and weaning components. We have conducted a number of focus groups in Cork and Galway, with both breastfeeding and non-breastfeeding parents to ensure a mixed group of people. We have found that a number of the challenges that are faced by parents in terms of promoting healthy feeding and engaging in it with their children up to two years are the same challenges that have been highlighted by the other speakers here. There are many practical issues, such as not knowing what to feed, when to feed and how to prepare the food for children, particularly around complementary feeding.

There are also challenges around cost across socio-economic groups, so it was not just about lower income parents. We also noted this in a larger qualitative piece that looked at international evidence. We synthesised a large body of international studies and found that across socio-economic groups people reported the cost of healthy feeding was a challenge. There is also the time to prepare the food, particularly for working parents. With respect to some of the propositions and recommendations brought forward today, if we can upskill parents or put in a preventative measure whereby parents come to this key juncture with skills, it would be useful. This is the practical aspect of preparing food and knowing how and when is challenging for parents. This is when they may engage in less healthy approaches.