Why Starting Solids Matters
How and when babies eat their first solid foods can be an exciting stage for new parents, but it can also bring confusion and anxiety due to conflicting advice and opinions. When should babies have their first sold foods? What should it be? How much? Is milk still important? Does any of this really matter?
Why Starting Solids Matters aims to help readers find answers to these questions by exploring the science behind the headlines. It provides a gentle introduction to the importance of the first year and beyond for the development of long term healthy eating habits and weight with much of the information just as relevant for thinking about the diet of older children and even the rest of the family too.
Dr Amy Brown is an Associate Professor in the Department of Public Heath at Swansea University where she leads the MSc in Child Public Health. With a background in Psychology, Dr Brown gained her PhD in 2010, exploring the importance of baby-led breastfeeding. Since then her research has continued to examine influences on breastfeeding and introducing solid foods and has published over 40 academic papers exploring how new mothers can best be supported at this time. She has a particular interest in understanding how interpretations of being a ‘good mother’ can affect infant feeding decisions and how we can challenge these ideas. Her research has received significant global media interest and she has made a number of appearances on international television and radio. Dr Brown is an editor for the International Breastfeeding Journal and Plos One. She lives in South West Wales with her three children.