The iHV is committed to ensuring that everyone supporting pregnant women, mothers and their families are equipped with the latest evidence-based advice on responsive infant feeding. The iHV fully supports the WHO Global Strategy for infant and young child feeding and complies with the International Code of the Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes – to enable, support and protect breastfeeding and ensure consistent messaging. We recognise that families also need protection from the unscrupulous marketing claims about alternatives to breastmilk, as well as support for responsive feeding using breastmilk substitutes where this is required.
The iHV works collaboratively with other stakeholders and experts, including other professional bodies and the third sector, to remove barriers, uphold high standards and promote best practice in all areas related to infant feeding. To support consistent messaging, the iHV does not produce its own core training or resources on breastfeeding or infant feeding. Instead, we signpost our members and followers to a suite of resources and latest guidance produced by government and selected third party organisations.
Disclaimer
The iHV complies with the WHO International Code of Marketing of Breast-Milk Substitutes and our work with commercial companies and partnerships is determined on that basis. We do not work with, or receive funding from, organisations or individuals who breach this Code – we will not enter partnerships with them, nor promote their resources or include them in any of our events. We complete ethical reviews on any partner organisations to ensure that we are compliant with this policy – we would never knowingly breach this policy and welcome contact if any oversight is identified.
iHV Resources
🎥 Insight Webinar Recordings
Our regular one hour webinars provide easily accessible CPD opportunities and the chance to learn from leading experts in their field.
External Resources
Better Health Start for Life Breastfeeding campaign resources
OHID has an extensive suite of breastfeeding resources, tools and campaign materials that partners can access for free from the Campaign Resource Centre, to help promote local activities and signpost your local population to their breastfeeding support tools, such as the Start for Life Breastfeeding Hub and the Start for Life email programme.
The World Health Organization Breastfeeding
The World Health Organization Breastfeeding – provides key facts and data to support breastfeeding.
UNICEF Baby Friendly Initiative – provides a range of professional and parent- facing resources to support best practice.
National Breastfeeding Helpline – offers friendly, non-judgemental, independent, evidence-based breastfeeding support and information to anyone in the UK who needs it. The helpline (which includes phone, social media, webchat and language line options) is provided by the Breastfeeding Network and the Association of Breastfeeding Mothers. The website also contains resources for practitioners.
The Breastfeeding Network: Drugs in Breastmilk Information service - for when you need information or support about medications or medical treatments while breastfeeding. It is run by registered pharmacists who are all trained to give breastfeeding support – 365 days a year.
Best Start in Life: Feeding your baby
NHS health advice and guidance for parents.
First Steps Nutrition Trust – is an independent public health nutrition charity that provides information and resources to support eating well from preconception to five years.
About the Baby Friendly Initiative
The UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative enables public services to better support families with feeding and developing close and loving relationships so that all babies get the best possible start in life.
Baby Friendly Initiative Standards
The Baby Friendly Initiative staged accreditation programme enables services to support families with feeding and help parents build a close and loving relationship with their baby. Services implement the standards in stages over a number of years and are externally assessed at each stage by UNICEF UK. When all stages are passed, the service is accredited as Baby Friendly and may go on to pursue the Achieving Sustainability Gold Award.
The Scientific Advisory Committee on Nutrition (SACN): produces a range of evidence-based reports, position statements and annual reports on nutrition – with resources focused on: feeding young children in the first year of life; aged 1 to 5 years; and guidance on specific nutrients or diets.
