By Lucy Upton, on behalf of the Infant and Toddler Forum

On behalf of the members of the Infant and Toddler Forum, I am proud to announce the launch of a new infant feeding educational programme, which includes practical resources for frontline healthcare professionals (HCPs) working with parents and infants.
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Expert-led not-for-profit organisation, the Infant & Toddler Forum CIC (ITF), today announces its 2020 campaign focus of making prevention ACTIONABLE for both parents, parents-to-be and healthcare professionals.

The ITF’s rallying cry for individuals in the early years sphere to embrace preventative action is borne out of the need for a new approach to halt the tidal wave of ill health due to obesity and obesity related illnesses.

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The Infant and Toddler Forum (ITF) welcomes the government’s announcement today to reduce sugar content in food and drink by 20%, and to introduce a sugar levy.

Judy More, paediatric dietitian and ITF member, said: “Sugary food and drinks can have a detrimental effect on children’s health. When eaten too frequently they cause tooth decay and add excess calories increasing the likelihood of overweight and obesity.  Young children naturally like sweet food and drinks but it is a parent’s responsibility to offer children a balanced diet with a limit on sugary food and drinks. Reducing sugar intake by cutting out sugary drinks is an easy way to do this. We welcome any development that supports parents to better manage sugar consumption in their young children’s diets, makes them aware of the importance of doing so, and helps them put this into action. Continue reading →

Whilst, recent research questions the use of multivitamin supplementation during pregnancy, the Infant & Toddler Forum maintain that the most important advice to give mothers-to-be is to take a daily supplement of 10µg vitamin D throughout pregnancy and 400µg folic acid up until at least the 12th week of pregnancy. Continue reading →

• One in ten parents regularly give pre-school children meals close to the size of adult portions*
• Parents are unaware of the health consequences of feeding too much too often
• #rethinktoddlerportionsizes new campaign sheds light on how much is too much. It’s time to rethink our notion of how much food toddlers need

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As evidence builds on the risk for babies of overweight mothers, a new simple guide sheds light on the right advice to follow

 A new online resource, Ten Steps for a Healthy Pregnancy, aims to help mums-to-be to use pregnancy as a window of opportunity to build good habits for health, growth and development for both mum and baby. The resource by the Infant & Toddler Forum (ITF) Continue reading →

The latest statistics from the National Child Measurement Programme, show that over a fifth of pre-school children were still found to be overweight or obese. And by the time they reach 11 years old this figure is over 33%. Despite the slight decrease year on year, it’s still a concern that children are becoming overweight at such a young age. Continue reading →

Evidence-based Portion Sizes for children aged 1-4 years available to support healthy growth and development

With growing evidence of the impact of increasing portion sizes on the amounts of food that  adults and children consume⁽¹⁾, simple  and practical advice Continue reading →

New guidance helps parents to see the connection between developmental stages and feeding infants and young children

A brand new resource for parents combines the developmental stages of infants and young children and their relationship with food and feeding. This influence starts as early as in the womb. Continue reading →

It’s now well accepted that what happens during the very early years of life has a lifelong effect on certain aspects of health and well-being. It is clear that we do need to act earlier to ensure every child gets the best start in life. Meet our three new members who bring valuable insights and support to our extended focus into preconception and pregnancy

Dr Rosan Mayer, Honorary Senior Lecturer, Imperial College, Principal Paediatric Principal Research Dietitian, Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children (read her biography here),

Rosan said: “I am delighted to be a part of the ITF and look forward to contributing my expertise in paediatric nutrition, weaning and feeding of young children. I am particularly supportive of the ITF’s focus on early life nutrition and starting earlier in the life-course to improve the later life of the child, and wholeheartedly support the need to act earlier for later health.”

Gill Perks Lead Midwife at Queen Charlotte’s & Chelsea Hospital, Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust (read Gill’s biography here)

Gill said: “As a practising midwife I am delighted to be part of the ITF as it broadens its educational programme in to the area of pregnancy nutrition and advice. The importance of good and timely advice on weight, nutrition and guidance for women and families on how to have a healthy pregnancy and birth cannot be underestimated. Getting it right from the start is the key to starting families off to better future health.”

Sukrutha Verareddy MRCOG, PhD
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist, Labour Ward Lead, Queen Elizabeth hospital, Woolwich Lewisham and Greenwich NHS Trust (read Sukrutha’s biography here)

Sukrutha said: “Since joining the ITF I have been keen to help contribute to the campaign to act earlier for later health. The trajectory for obesity is on the rise and I see many pregnant women who enter pregnancy with raised body mass Index that increases maternal and fetal risks. The ITF is committed to supporting families at the very start of life . Good advice on weight management, lifestyle and nutrition at pre-conception, during pregnancy and in-between pregnancies can really make a difference to future generations.”

The Infant & Toddler Forum (ITF) supports the advice of Professor John Ashton, the president of the UK Faculty of Public Health that all parents should be offered state-funded classes on how to bring up their children in an attempt to tackle rising levels of child obesity, mental distress and underachievement. He called for more parenting programmes and telephone helplines and said schools should introduce daily meditation sessions.

Judy More, paediatric dietitian and ITF member, said: “It’s now well accepted that what happens during the very early years  of life  (starting in the womb) has lifelong effects on certain aspects of health and well-being. It is clear that we do need to act earlier to ensure every child gets the best start in life. Education is paramount to achieving this. Our latest report  Early Nutrition for Later Health: Time to Act Earlier, not only echoes this call for education but highlights the need to take a life course approach to health and wellbeing starting before pregnancy  – at preconception and continuing throughout the very early years to encourage healthy family  lifestyles. Families need consistent, simple, advice to get back on the right track if we are going to halt the obesity epidemic.”