Infant feeding survey 2022
A new report by Baby Friendly
This report explores the application of the National Infant Feeding Network (NIFN) as a support mechanism to positively influence infant feeding policy throughout the UK
Findings are collated from a survey distributed by the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative via the National Infant Feeding Network (NIFN). Results capture current practice in infant feeding across UK maternity, neonatal, health visiting, children’s centre and university settings, and highlight the successes and challenges experienced by NIFN members in implementing the Baby Friendly standards.
Results offer valuable insight into the application of NIFN, illuminating the strength of the network as a support mechanism for infant feeding leads to:
- share evidence-based information around infant feeding and very early childhood development
- facilitate effective communication across regional networks
- provide practical and emotional support to each other
- share Baby Friendly news and updates.
Key recommendations
Key recommendations of the report include:
- To monitor the impact of the pandemic and ongoing crisis within maternity care on the roles of the infant feeding leads/teams, as well as the implementation of the Baby Friendly standards within services.
- To further analyse the significant underrepresentation of Black and Black British and Minority Ethnic staff completing this survey in order to explore how we can act to ensure that we are supporting an inclusive and diverse NIFN.
- To use the findings within this report along with conversations with regional leads to plan ‘What next for NIFN’, including how the network could become more inclusive to all those working alongside infant feeding leads in infant feeding support roles or within infant feeding teams to support families.
- To gather case studies and/or stories in order to showcase good practice and so reduce the inequity of care provided across the UK.
As services continue to deliver care in these unprecedented times, the value of the National Infant Feeding Network (NIFN) is strong. Respondents fed back overwhelmingly that the network is a key source of motivation, information and support in their infant feeding roles, and that the network provides much-needed comfort, reassurance, expertise and friendship.
It is hoped that the findings from this paper will lay the foundation for strengthening NIFN as a support mechanism to positively influence local, regional and national infant feeding policy in the UK in order to ensure optimum health and wellbeing outcomes for all babies, their mothers and families.
N.B. NIFN includes nine regional groups in England; the Scottish Infant Feeding Network (SIFAN); the Welsh Infant Feeding Network (WIFN); Neonatal NIFN and University NIFN.
