Campaign Launched To Help Mums
By admin • Jan 5th, 2010New mums may at times feel alone and like all the important information surrounding early life childcare is too hard to remember, particularly after a sleepless night with a screaming baby.
Luckily, help is at hand from the government, which has announced the launch of a new scheme designed to make just such advice and information available to new mums.
The Start4Life campaign, part of the ongoing Change4Life scheme - which was designed to encourage families to eat well in order to extend their lifespan - aims to support pregnant women and parents of babies to give their infant a healthier start in life.
Based on the latest child health research, the campaign is founded on six building blocks.
So what are these?
The first is Mum’s Milk and why feeding a baby breast milk is better for both mother and child. Another block is Everyday Counts, with information on how breast feeding each day can make a difference to a baby’s health levels.
No Rush To Mush could be a useful topic for many mums concerned about when they should move their new addition’s diet on to solid foods, with the campaign advising there are three stages a parent should look out for to determine if their tot is ready for solids - if they can sit up and hold their head steady, reach out and take a finger-sized piece of banana and then eat some themselves.
Taste For Life recommends mums and dads encourage variety in their baby’s diet, while Sweet As They Are warns them not to let their infant develop a sweet tooth and Baby Moves urges parents to ensure their little ones are lively and active.
For mums concerned about doing everything right by their new addition, the campaign could offer peace of mind.
Commenting on the scheme, a spokesperson for Start4Life states there has been confusion among new parents recently, after the World Health Organisation noted a baby should be introduced to solid food at six months, rather than the four months previously stated.
"Our research indicates that adopting specific behaviours, such as breastfeeding, the introduction of appropriate solid foods and active interaction with babies and toddlers early on in life can both help introduce positive behaviour to the whole family and help prevent childhood obesity," she added.
Armed with all this information, new mums may find they can sleep easier at night without worrying about their little one’s diet - once their baby has finally dropped off that is.
Do you worry about giving your child the best diet?