News • Children's Food Campaign
Breastfeeding increasing in Scotland
The number of babies being breastfed at 6 to 8 weeks in Scotland has increased from 36% in 2001-02 to 42% in 2017 - which is the highest rate since records began.
The increase in breastfed babies follows a recent investment of an additional £2 million for breastfeeding support by the Scottish Government. In an Early Day Motion SNP Alison Thewliss MP proposed that the House welcomes the increase in the number of babies being breastfed at six to eight weeks: “this represents positive progress, but acknowledges there is still much work to be done; and thanks Linda Wolfson, Scottish Government National Maternal and Infant Nutrition Coordinator and every member of staff, volunteer and peer supporter in Scotland’s communities for its effort in achieving progress in Scotland’s breastfeeding rates.”
Helen Crawley from First Steps Nutrition, who are a member of the Sustain alliance, welcomes this good news:
“We are pleased with these latest findings of breastfeeding rates increasing in Scotland. It is worth noting that all of Scotland's maternity and community services are Unicef UK Baby Friendly accredited and this is changing the culture around infant feeding. Only two thirds of maternity facilities in England are currently Baby Friendly (BFI) accredited."
Published Monday 12 November 2018
Children's Food Campaign: Better food and food teaching for children in schools, and protection of children from junk food marketing are the aims of Sustain's high-profile Children's Food Campaign. We also want clear food labelling that can be understood by everyone, including children.
