1. Maternal diet, the significance of low birth weight and infant feeding `Food for the baby from its early days in the womb until it is 2-3 years old`

2. Maternal diet, the significance of low birth weight and infant feeding `food for the baby from its early days in the womb until it is 2-3 years old`

3. Infant Feeding: The first 6 months

5. DOH recommendations • Breast feeding is the best form of nutrition for infants • Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months (26 weeks) of an infant’s life • Six months is the recommended age for the introduction of solid foods for infants • Breast feeding (and /or breastmilk substitutes) should continue beyond the first six months, along with appropriate types and amounts of solid foods • All infants should be managed individually so that sufficient growth or other adverse outcomes are not ignored and appropriate interventions provided. ( DOH statement issued 12/05/03)

6. 1995 National Diet and Nutrition Survey • Over 80% of toddlers have a low iron intake • Over 70% have low zinc intake • Over 50% have a low Vitamin A intake • Approx 1 in 8 are anaemic • 85% consume more sugar than recommended • 50% consume sugar sweetened/ artificially sweetened drinks • 30% have tooth decay • Toddlers from low income families consume diets low in vitamin C

7. 1950 per day Energy 1445 kcal 117g Starch 7.7mg Iron 120g Bread 75g Potatoes <1g Confectionery 13g Soft drinks/juice 1990s per day Energy 1228kcal 77g Starch 5.9mg Iron 48g Bread 66g Potatoes 25g Confectionery 446g Soft drinks Comparison between diets of 4-year olds in 1950 & 1990s Prynne CJ et al Public Health Nutrition 2 (4), 537-547

8. Food and nutrition for the under threes • 29% of toddlers were eating takeaways at least once a week • 19% of mothers serve takeaways or ready meals to their toddler for most meals • 65% of mothers never cook fresh meals from scratch especially for their toddler • 95% following government guidance to feed their toddler like the rest of the family – but for 44% of mothers that meant using pre-prepared convenience foods 83%mothers reported they were feeding their toddler a healthy, balanced diet Discussion document from the Infant and Toddler Forum

9. Empower parents though more support and information about the basics of infant & toddler nutrition, including better understanding of food labels Clear, accessible and consistent nutritional guidance for children aged 1 -5 years Better training for health and child care professionals on child nutrition relevant to the toddler years