Abstract
There is limited evidence to describe Australian mothers’ understanding of the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines (AIFG). A qualitative inductive methodological approach was used in this study to explore experiences with the introduction of solid food. Seven focus groups with 42 mothers of children aged 4–18 months were conducted in disadvantaged areas in Perth, Australia. The mean age of infants was 9.6 months and mean age of introduction of solid food was 4.3 months (range 1.2 to 7.5 months). Almost half of the mothers in this study were aware of the AIFG however, only half again could correctly identify the recommended age for introducing solid food. Four themes and nine subthemes emerged from the analysis. Themes were (1) Every child is different (judging signs of readiness); (2) Everyone gives you advice (juggling conflicting advice); (3) Go with your gut—(being a “good” mother); and (4) It’s not a sin to start them too early or too late (—guidelines are advice and not requirements). The findings indicated that in spite of continued promotion of the AIFG over the past ten years achieving the around six months guideline is challenging. Professionals must address barriers and support enablers to achieving infant feeding recommendations in the design education materials and programs.
Highlights
The nutrition and health benefits of breastfeeding are well recognised and since 2003 the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines (AIFG) have recommended mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants to around 6 months, and this continues with the current edition [1,2]
International and national infant feeding guidelines are an important means of communicating evidence-based best practice to health professionals, child health nurses and these are translated and communicated to new mothers through scheduled child health nurse visits for infants and targeted health promotion interventions
This study demonstrates the continued issues in achieving the infant feeding guidelines in developed countries like Australia
Summary
The nutrition and health benefits of breastfeeding are well recognised and since 2003 the Australian Infant Feeding Guidelines (AIFG) have recommended mothers to exclusively breastfeed their infants to around 6 months, and this continues with the current edition [1,2]. The discussion across all the groups communicated a strong image that babies controlled feeding decisions, indicated when they were ready and what they liked, and mothers interpreted these cues to decisions, indicated when they were ready and what they liked, and mothers interpreted these cues justify a number of decisions around timing of solid food and types of foods to be introduced.
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