Embracing diversity in community healthcare settings: developing a client-centred approach to weaning support

Abstract

There is increasing recognition that nutrition in the early years of life is an important contributory factor to both short- and long-term health. In order to ensure that nutritional advice is responsive to new evidence and best practice, the Department of Health is informed and advised by the Food Standards Agency (FSA) and the Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN). In May 2003 the UK issued guidelines initially recommended by the World Health Organization that infants should be exclusively breast-fed for the first six months (26 weeks) of life. More recently, the Department of Health revised its guidelines to include delaying the introduction of solids to six months for both breast and formula-fed babies (Department of Health, 2004).