Department of Health  13 August 2007

NOF welcomes the Department of Health’s [DH] announcement that UK parents and clinics will be routinely using World Health Organisation [WHO] growth charts based on the weight gain of breastfed rather than bottle fed babies.  Regrettably, however, it may be some time before they are put into the Personal Child Health Record given to every family on the birth of a new child.  DH is insisting on trialling the charts prior to general release though its purpose is not clear: the charts have already been trialled by WHO.
 

Two immediate benefits will justify the charts’ introduction when ever that may be.  

Firstly, the charts will have been deemed a success if the new, lower, “ breastfed-baby friendly “ centile pattern reduces the number of infants entering their 3rd yr unhealthily overweight.  Although initially the charts will add some 20% more children into the infant overweight/obese categories, it is anticipated that in time this figure should be substantially reduced.

The second benefit, and arguably as important as the first, will be to allow breastfeeding mothers the confidence to breastfeed for longer and raise slimmer babies.  The charts show that an average 1yr should be 9½kg as opposed to 10kg and the reduction continues into Yr 2.

[see DH website for its full announcement: see NOF QUOTES for media coverage]