At the launch of the First 1,000 Days Awareness Week, which takes place from today, Monday 16th through toFriday 20th September; Danone Baby Nutrition released findings from the First 1,000 Days survey, which was commissioned during the summer months. Findings indicate low levels of awareness of the long-term positive implications of good nutrition throughout the First 1,000 Days of Life, a period of time which refers to the nine months of pregnancy up to the first two years of a child’s life.
The survey was conducted amongst 400 women from all over Ireland who are either already mothers or who are pregnant. Findings show that the majority of women were aware of the need to eat well throughout the key stages of the First 1,000 Days (pregnancy, breastfeeding, weaning and toddler); however, 63% were unaware of the long-term impact of good nutrition at this critical time of their child’s growth and development.
Making the right nutrition and lifestyle choices during pregnancy can leave a long term positive legacy- programming the baby’s genes to help reduce the risk of diseases such as heart disease, obesity and type 2 diabetes later on in life.
The survey also highlighted Ireland’s low breastfeeding rates; a total of 40% of those surveyed didn’tbreastfeed. When analysed further, this 40% figure highlighted a regional disparity with over 56% in Cork, 36% in Galway and 52% in Limerick not breastfeeding.This figure is in line with the latest ESRI data on the issue which shows that only 56% of women initiate breastfeeding in Ireland. This compares with 81% in the UK and 90% in most Scandinavian countries.
The survey showed that early weaning (i.e. before the optimum 4 – 6 months) is still an issue as 13% revealed they start weaning at 3 months. The survey also found that 40% of parents give up offering a new food to their child if it is refused 1 – 5 times; whereas evidence shows that it can, in fact, take up to 10 exposures to a new food for some children to accept it.
When a child reaches the 1 – 2 year old toddler stage, nutrition remains a critically important factor due to the rapid speed of brain development. The recent National Pre-School Nutrition Survey (NPNS) illustrates that not all Irish toddlers are eating the right diet with 23% of 1 year olds not getting enough iron and over 70% of all toddlers not receiving enough vitamin D. Omega 3 in fish is another key nutrient for healthy brain, eye and nervous system development, yet just 37% of those surveyed said their toddler ate fish once a week as recommended.
Aileen Regan, Medical Director for Danone Baby Nutrition, commented on the findings: “The implications of these survey results highlight a number of issues that we hope to address throughout First 1,000 Days Awareness Week. We want to educate parents about the nutritional requirements of both the mum whilst pregnant and breastfeeding and their baby from conception until two years of age. This is a chance to support new parents and parents to be with the relevant nutrition information throughout this critical period of development for their baby, and an opportunity for all of us to improve the health of the nation now, and to reap the benefits in the future.”
With the inception of the First 1,000 Days Awareness Week, Danone Baby Nutrition will seek to share information about the importance of good nutrition throughout the First 1,000 Days. A week of informative activities and events are scheduled to take place across Ireland, including:
- · Amelda Maguire, mother to 17 month old twins and wife of Chef Neven Maguire; Paula Mee, Dietitian; Aileen Regan, Medical Director of Danone Baby Nutrition and Louise Reynolds, Dietitian will appear on Ireland AM, TV3 during the week
- · Neven Maguire will host free First 1,000 Days cookery demonstrations;
o Dublin: Wednesday 18th September at The Marker Hotel
o Galway: Wednesday 2nd October at Hotel Meyrick, Eyre Square
- · First 1,000 Days information events will also take place in select Tesco, Hickeys and Sam McCauley’s pharmacies during the week
- · Live Q&As with Danone Baby Nutrition experts on the First 1,000 Days Facebook page
All information on the First 1,000 Days movement can be found here:
- · Join the movement on www.first1000days.ie and help to spread the word
- · Follow us on twitter @First1000Days www.twitter.com/First1000Days
- · Find us on Facebook www.facebook.com/First1000DaysIreland
What is the First 1,000 Days movement?
The First 1,000 Days movement is aiming to drive awareness of the importance of correct nutrition during the First 1,000 Days of life, from pregnancy to 2 years of age. Good nutrition during this time offers parents a unique window of opportunity to secure the long term health and development of their baby.
Other key findings from the survey included:
- · 67% of respondents are concerned with managing weight during pregnancy
- · Eating a balanced diet is the most popular way to manage weight during pregnancy at 91%
- · There is an awareness of Folic acid being a key nutrient for pregnancy across all cohorts
- · 74% of respondents acknowledge the importance of vitamins for children during weaning
- · 55% of respondents wean their toddler at between 4 – 6 months