Briefing paper relaunch: ‘Efficacy of breastfeeding interventions to improve uptake in the UK’

by Chloe Higham-Smith | 4 August, 2026 10:14 am

To mark B[1]reastfeeding[2] Awareness Week[3], we are re-launching our briefing paper ‘Efficacy of breastfeeding interventions to improve uptake in the UK’, outlining how increasing and maintaining breastfeeding rates can be an effective measure in promoting healthy weight.

The briefing paper includes an overview of the current evidence base, national policy landscape, a series of case studies and concludes with our position and a series of recommendations for local and national government.

The relaunch comes as the Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) 2024[4] provides the first comprehensive national picture of infant feeding practices in England for more than a decade – highlighting encouraging breastfeeding rates while also revealing persistent inequalities and an ongoing need for improved support for families.

Key findings from the survey:

The findings reinforce the importance of giving every family access to high-quality infant feeding support from pregnancy through the early months of a baby’s life. Mothers who received support from maternity and health visiting services reported positive experiences, although more than a third of those who breastfed said they would have liked additional professional support.

Despite encouraging breastfeeding rates, significant inequalities remain. Breastfeeding was more common among older mothers, those living in the least deprived areas and mothers from minority ethnic backgrounds. Younger mothers and those living in more deprived communities were less likely to breastfeed, highlighting the continued impact of wider social and economic inequalities on infant health.

The survey also found that most parents introduced solid foods at around six months in line with national guidance, while infant formula continued to play an important role in feeding many babies, either exclusively or alongside breastfeeding.

The report provides valuable evidence to help shape future policy and services, with the findings underlining the need for sustained investment in breastfeeding support, creating environments that enable families to breastfeed for as long as they choose, and tackling the inequalities that prevent many parents from achieving their infant feeding goals.

Chloe Higham-Smith, Food Active Project Manager, said:

“The findings from the Infant Feeding Survey 2024 are encouraging and show that many families are being supported to breastfeed for longer. However, the survey also highlights persistent inequalities, with families living in more deprived communities continuing to face greater barriers to breastfeeding. These findings reinforce the recommendations in our updated briefing paper and the need for sustained investment in evidence-based breastfeeding support. Every parent should have access to consistent, high-quality support to make informed feeding decisions and give every child the healthiest possible start in life.”

 

Links:
  1. B: https://waba.org.my/wbw/
  2. reastfeeding: https://waba.org.my/wbw/
  3. Awareness Week: https://waba.org.my/wbw/
  4. Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) 2024: https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/infant-feeding-survey-in-england-2024/infant-feeding-survey-2024-summary-of-main-findings

Source URL: https://foodactive.org.uk/briefing-paper-relaunch-efficacy-of-breastfeeding-interventions-to-improve-uptake-in-the-uk/

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