First Steps Nutrition Trust

➡️ To learn more on this, their policy recommendations, or find specific tools and guidance on cancer prevention, see the World Cancer Research Fund.

www.wcrf.org/preventing-c...

Breastfeeding, when possible, is therefore an important part in maternal and child health and is a part of the World Cancer Research Funds Cancer Prevention Recommendations.

Breastfed babies are less likely to become overweight or obese in childhood compared to those who are not breastfed, which then lowers their risk of overweight and obesity in adulthood, therefore decreasing their risk of developing a preventable cancer when they grow up.

Breastfeeding can help protect against excess weight gain, overweight, and obesity in the breastfed child. In addition, breastfeeding can help mum reduce weight post-partum. This is important as excess body fat is shown to increase the risk of 13 different types of cancer.

Protecting against breast cancer through breastfeeding contributes to cancer prevention at a population level. Cancer prevention requires a holistic focus on health including physical activity, healthy diets, and maintaining a healthy weight.

Breastfeeding lowers your risk of developing breast cancer by:
🍐 Reducing the exposure to some cancer-related hormones in your body
🍐 Helping to remove any cells in your breasts that have DNA damage

There is strong scientific evidence that breastfeeding your baby can reduce your risk of developing breast cancer. There is also some evidence that breastfeeding lowers the risk of ovarian cancer...

👏 For this year’s World Cancer Prevention Action Week, we’d like to highlight the important link to breastfeeding and cancer protection, for both mums and babies. 🤱

📘 In addition, our “Breastmilk and breastfeeding: A simple guide”, is available for download from our website. This short guide includes information on what's in breastmilk and why breastfeeding matters, and signposts to expert sources and advice. www.firststepsnutrition.org/breastmilk-a...

🍐The UK Association for Milk Banking provides information about using donated breastmilk for babies that are premature or ill, and how to donate breastmilk
🍐The Drugs in Breastmilk Helpline provides support via email or Facebook

For specialised support:
🍐Bliss charity is a special-care baby charity that provides vital support and care to premature and sick babies across the UK
🍐Twin Trust offers guidance on feeding twins and triplets

...benefits of breastfeeding, returning to work while breastfeeding, and many more.
🍐The easy-read ‘A guide to help you start breastfeeding’ leaflet, created in collaboration with UNICEF, which provides mums and parents with key information about breastfeeding.

Through the Best Start in Life website you can also access tools such as:
🍐A comprehensive selection of knowledge and guidance for breastfeeding families, providing NHS-trusted advice on topics such as expressing breastmilk, breastfeeding in public, maintaining a breastfeeding-friendly diet..

🍐Information on how to access one-to-one support with midwives, health visitors, or locally trained volunteer mothers (peer supporters).
🍐Online breastfeeding support including the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative, The Breastfeeding Network (UK), and Lactation Consultants Great Britain

The Best Start in Life website was officially launched in September 2025. Breastfeeding resources that are available include:
🍐 A list of helplines including National Breastfeeding Helpline UK, La Leche League International, and The National Childbirth Trust
...

🤱 We would like to highlight some useful breastfeeding resources for UK parents. ➡️

The Partnerships Team from the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) sent out a newsletter in December 2025 which showcased the DHSC Breastfeeding resources that are available. www.nhs.uk/best-start-i...

Struggling to find #formula milk because of the #recalls?

See our top tips and key information in this new infographic 👇

Plus, lots more this month. Sign up for our newsletter if you haven’t already and read February’s latest edition at the link in our bio! 👏

🍐 In December, the UK government published their response to the CMA’s 11 recommendations on the formula milk market. This creates a long-awaited opportunity to strengthen formula marketing regulations in line with the Code.

The decline is likely due to the exposé and media coverage, as well as adjustments made to NHS guidance to parents to make clear not to rely on shop-bought baby foods - a request we made to the DHSC’s chief nutritionist.

🥑 In December, the Grocer reported that “wet babyfood category” purchases declined about 15% following the April 2025 BBC Panorama investigation, which we are proud to have contributed to...

The authors report that parents preferred picture-based, easy-to-access guidance delivered early in the complementary feeding period and from trusted sources. Our Eating Well guides fit the bill, especially ‘Good Food Choices and Portion Sizes for 1 to under-5 year olds’.

🍇 We report on a qualitative study by University College London that looked to understand parents’ experiences of using the HENRY portion guide for young children.

🥦 We have updated our “Eating Well for a Healthy Pregnancy: A practical guide to support teenagers” to reflect both the 2025 NICE Maternal and Child Nutrition Guidelines and the more challenging context in which pregnant women are trying to eat well since the last update in 2022.

Our Director, Vicky, spoke with BBC Radio, our Senior Nutritionist, Katie, appeared on ITV evening news and our Senior Nutritionist, Rachel, was quoted in the Financial Times, all highlighting why this is a concern and what needs to be done. See our full newsletter for more on this.

🍅 It’s been confirmed that some batches of various Nestlé and Danone formula milks sold in the UK have been contaminated with a toxin called cereuldie, which causes food poisoning.

📰 Want to keep up to date with the latest news and research about infant and young child feeding? ➡️

Our February newsletter was published last week, with the latest news. Here are some of the highlights…

❗ Based on demand, we now have hard copies of our Eating Well guide for South Asian children available in our online shop, for £15.99 each. You can still download the PDF for free, or a donation of your choice.

South Asian cuisine may be a good way to encourage children to consume more pulses in their diets, so this Eating Well guide can be useful for all families looking to try out new healthy recipes.