A Solid Start for babies in the West
11/06/2012
Parents in the west want more help when it comes to weaning their infants. That is the message from a survey undertaken by the Western Trust's Community Food and Nutrition Team, the results of which are to be shared at a “Sharing a Solid Start” Networking Session on Weaning held in Londonderry this week.
The results of the survey are being revealed at a special event which starts at 10am in the YMCA, Drumahoe, Londonderry on Wednesday 13 June 2012.
Participating in the survey were parents who had attended Weaning Workshops given by the Community Food and Nutrition Team over the past two years. These workshops cover practical aspects of weaning such as suitable foods, adjusting textures, introducing a cup and recommendations on vitamin supplements.
The Community Food and Nutrition Team, however, wanted to find out whether or not parents could put the information into practice at home. Claire Robinson, placement student with the team, carried out the research and said: “Parents really benefitted from the workshops but they also highlighted a need for on-going support throughout the weaning period.”
Suggestions from the survey included information on recipe adaptation, meal planners and cooking sessions where parents could practice preparing weaning foods.
“Weaning is an important stage in moving from milk to meals,” said Claire Holmes, Cook it! Dietitian with the Western Trust, “but we live in an age where commercial baby foods are strongly promoted, leaving many parents feeling uncertain about preparing baby food at home.
She continued: “Family organisations are ideally placed to help parents develop confidence in their abilities to feed their children of all ages. The weaning workshops we offer play a part in this.”
The Networking event will bring together health professionals and community staff working with parents of young children and create an opportunity to plan future initiatives that will support parents and babies during the weaning process and into childhood.