early years lead at Public Health England, explains.
There is overwhelming evidence that breastfeeding provides the best nutrition for babies and brings health benefits for both mother and child - and it is free, so can help every child get a healthy start in life. Yet occasionally there are conflicting stories on breastfeeding in the media, so we felt it important to set the record straight.
Public Health England (PHE) recommends breastfeeding exclusively for the first six months of a baby's life and after that giving breast milk alongside solid food. Despite this, breastfeeding rates at birth in the UK are among the lowest in Europe at about 74 per cent, and this drops to 47 per cent at six to eight weeks.
Register now to continue reading
Thank you for visiting Nursery World and making use of our archive of more than 35,000 expert features, subject guides, case studies and policy updates. Why not register today and enjoy the following great benefits:
What's included
-
Free access to 4 subscriber-only articles per month
-
Unlimited access to news and opinion
-
Email newsletter providing activity ideas, best practice and breaking news
Already have an account? Sign in here
