Quality standard

Quality statement 7: Advice on introducing solid food

Quality statement 7: Advice on introducing solid food

Quality statement

Parents are given advice on introducing their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk. [2015]

Rationale

It is important that babies aged around 6 months are started on solid food, with the introduction of suitable foods in addition to breastmilk or formula milk to establish a healthy and varied diet. This ensures that a varied and nutritionally adequate diet is already in place when breastmilk or formula milk are no longer given. Involving parents in discussions about starting solid food when they attend the 6 to 8 week health visitor appointment with their baby helps them to introduce solid food when their baby is around 6 months, minimising poor infant outcomes associated with starting solid food earlier or later.

Quality measures

The following measures can be used to assess the quality of care or service provision specified in the statement. They are examples of how the statement can be measured, and can be adapted and used flexibly.

Process

a) Proportion of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments where parents receive advice on how to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Numerator – the number in the denominator where the parents receive advice on how to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Denominator – the number of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments.

Data source: The number of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments at national, regional and local level in England is collected in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities' Health visitor service delivery metrics (2017 onwards). This data is submitted on a voluntary basis.

b) Proportion of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments where parents receive advice on when to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Numerator – the number in the denominator where the parents and carers receive advice on when to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Denominator – the number of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments.

Data source: The number of 6‑ to 8‑week health visitor appointments at national, regional and local level in England is collected in the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities' Health visitor service delivery metrics (2017 onwards). This data is submitted on a voluntary basis.

What the quality statement means for different audiences

Service providers (community providers) ensure that systems are in place for parents to be advised on how and when to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Health visitors ensure that they work with parents, advising them at the 6‑ to 8‑week appointment on how and when to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Commissioners specify that providers advise parents how and when to introduce their baby to a variety of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk.

Parents are given advice on how and when to introduce their baby to different types of nutritious foods to complement breastmilk or formula milk. The health visitor explains that they should start their baby on solid food at around 6 months and introduce a wide variety of different foods to give their baby a healthy and varied diet in the first year, in addition to breastmilk or formula milk. This will help the baby to be healthy, support the development of motor skills and speech and language, and help the baby to stay at a healthy weight. Advice should also be given about the texture of food, the use of finger foods and how parents and carers can reduce the risk of choking.

Definitions of terms used in this quality statement

Advice on introducing their baby to a variety of nutritious foods

This is advice that includes, but is not limited to:

  • the reasons for starting solid food at around 6 months

  • the possible effects on the baby of starting solid food earlier or later

  • the reasons for continuing breastfeeding

  • maximising breastmilk or increasing infant formula feeds for babies under 6 months who are feeding more frequently.

This information can be given by the health visitor at the mandated 6‑ to 8‑week appointment. [NICE's guideline on maternal and child nutrition, table 2 and expert opinion]

Equality and diversity considerations

People from some religious groups introduce solid food to babies when they are considerably older than 6 months of age. Health visitors should be mindful of different behaviours and beliefs while highlighting the importance of introducing a range of foods at around 6 months. This requires sensitive communication to inform parents and carers of the possible impact on their baby's health.