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INFANT endorsed by the US National Cancer Institute as a recommended evidence-based program
by Editorial Team | May 3, 2024 | News
INFANT has been endorsed as a recommended evidence-based program by the US National Cancer Institute (NCI). As the leading federal agency for cancer research in the United States, the NCI focuses on the scale up of proven health lifestyle programs. This commitment...
Infant formula or cow’s milk? Perspective on the World Health Organization recommendations for Australian parents
by tpenny | Apr 16, 2024 | News
The latest recommendations from the World Health Organization (WHO) that non breastfed infants aged 6–11 months can be fed either formula or animal milk has created a stir. The apparent contradiction between the recommendations and the current Australian Infant...
New in-language resources to encourage healthy lifestyle habits early in life
by Editorial Team | Feb 29, 2024 | News
New resources encouraging healthy eating and active play from the start of life have been developed for culturally and linguistically diverse families in Melbourne’s west. The Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) has partnered with Deakin University’s Institute for...
A USA review identified INFANT as the strongest international model for wide-spread implementation of a community complementary feeding intervention
by Editorial Team | Nov 17, 2023 | News
INFANT has been identified in a US Centre for Disease Control-funded review as the strongest international model for wide-spread implementation of a community complementary feeding intervention. The review titled ‘Complementary Feeding Interventions for Infants and...
INFANT’s Award Success: Deakin Faculty of Health Partnerships in Practice
by Editorial Team | Aug 18, 2023 | News
INFANT’s contributions to enhancing positive health behaviours in early childhood have been recognised by two awards from the Deakin University Faculty of Health Partnerships in Practice. INFANT received two awards at the inaugural Deakin Faculty of Health...
Western Public Health Unit (WPHU) focusing on health equity
by Editorial Team | Mar 10, 2023 | News
Characterised by its growth corridors and very high birth numbers, WPHU is home to many families with young children, from diverse cultural backgrounds. To support our population, WPHU has taken the evidence based INFANT program and in collaboration with Deakin...
A nutritious and active start to life: Evaluation of the INFANT intervention – The policy practice cycle
by Editorial Team | Apr 28, 2022 | News
Presenter: Professor Kylie Hesketh This seminar was held on 21st February 2022 The aim of this seminar is to provide insight into the continued benefits INFANT has on children from birth to five years of age. The main focus is the evaluation of INFANT to date and...
INFANT supports the Victorian Government’s five-year action plan ‘Healthy kids, healthy futures’
by Editorial Team | Dec 16, 2021 | News
Support for families and children could look very different within five years, thanks to the Victorian Government’s new five-year action plan, in which INFANT is included as a priority action. The five-year action plan ‘Healthy kids, healthy futures’ aims to support...
Download the My Baby Now app today!
by Editorial Team | Sep 28, 2021 | News
New parents have told us how they often feel overwhelmed with so much conflicting information - it’s not easy to sort fact from fiction! The My Baby Now app offers you trustworthy and up-to-date information about feeding and active play with your baby. My Baby Now is...
The My Baby Now app – free for parents and caregivers
by Editorial Team | Sep 28, 2021 | News
As health professionals, you know that mums, dads and carers often feel overwhelmed with so much conflicting information and it can hard for them to know how to sort fact from fiction! The My Baby Now app provides parents with a contemporary way of accessing credible,...
How to reduce food waste and care for your baby sustainably
by Editorial Team | Mar 6, 2024 | Tips for parents
It may seem that the arrival of your baby is accompanied by a rise in household waste. New baby equipment, toy packaging, nappies, and starting on solid foods all add another layer to this. Babies are learning and love to explore food and their surroundings by...
Breastfeeding support at your fingertips with the My Baby Now app
by Editorial Team | Aug 1, 2023 | Tips for parents
Providing continuous breastfeeding support to mums, dads and carers is essential, regardless of the time of day. With more families seeking support through online channels, the INFANT team want to ensure you’re accessing reliable, evidence-based resources that will...
Multi-age play – infants and children of different ages playing together
by Editorial Team | Jul 18, 2023 | Tips for parents
Why is play so important for infants and children? Physical play is important for children’s overall learning, development, and confidence. When playing with other age groups, children learn how to develop friendships, learn from others, and improve their...
Featured Recipe: Pumpkin, carrot and parsnip soup
by Editorial Team | Jul 4, 2023 | Tips for parents
This pumpkin, carrot, and parsnip soup is the ultimate winter delight, perfect for cosying up during the chilly days and nights. With the combination of pumpkin, carrot, parsnip, and mild spices, it offers a variety of flavours that are perfect for babies that are...
Motor skill development – what is it, why is it important, and what can you do to help your child develop gross motor skills?
by Editorial Team | Jun 23, 2023 | Tips for parents
When we look at developing gross motor skills of infants and children, we are talking about the coordination and movement of different body parts of the body This enables your baby or child to be able to move and play and later to join in playground games and sports. ...
Featured Recipe: Tuna and Creamed Corn Macaroni
by Editorial Team | Jun 20, 2023 | Tips for parents
Are you seeking simple, nutritious, and budget-friendly meal ideas for your family? Look no further than our delightful tuna and creamed corn macaroni recipe, designed to check all the right boxes. Centered around tuna, this recipe offers a budget-conscious way to...
Featured Recipe: Rainbow Chips
by Editorial Team | May 30, 2023 | Tips for parents
Eat the rainbow with this colourful rainbow chip recipe! These chips are perfect snack or side dish for little ones as they’re soft, easy to hold and packed full of flavour. We recommend cutting them into thick sticks so that they can be introduced via baby-led...
Featured Recipe: Bircher Muesli
by Editorial Team | Feb 1, 2023 | Tips for parents
We’ve made it to the final month of summer and what better way to enjoy the warm weather than with a simple, chilled breakfast. Bircher muesli is a perfect breakfast for you and your little ones as it contains oats which are great for maintaining energy levels...
Featured Recipe: Fish Patties
by Editorial Team | Jan 24, 2023 | Tips for parents
What better way to introduce your baby to different textures than with soft and crispy fish patties. These patties are great for baby-led weaning as they’re perfect texture for babies to grab and pop into their mouths by themselves. We love these patties as they’re...
An approach to encourage free movement by limiting sedentary behaviour
by Editorial Team | Sep 27, 2022 | Tips for parents
Sedentary behaviour is a concept you may have heard about, it means any activity that you do either sitting or lying down (with the exception of sleeping). Even if you are physically active, there are health benefits to breaking up the time we spend sitting down,...
Understanding infant food pouches
by Editorial Team | Feb 20, 2024 | Tips for health professionals
The introduction of solids at around 6-months of age, is an important step in an infant’s journey. However, the myriad of possible food options can be daunting for new mums, dads, and carers.1 Among the vast number of commercial infant food products available, food...
First cereals for babies
by Editorial Team | Jul 21, 2023 | Tips for health professionals
The introduction of solids is an exciting new chapter for both baby and caregiver, but knowing which foods to offer first can often cause confusion. This is particularly true of cereals, with seemingly endless options lining the supermarket shelves, including many...
Babies’ Movement and Milestones
by michelleharris | May 31, 2022 | Tips for health professionals
Early childhood interventions that target infant movement behaviours can have a positive impact on the physical, social, and emotional health and development of children. The Early Movers project, led by Valerie Carson and colleagues, found that not all playtime...
In Spotlight: Anthea Gregoriou
by Editorial Team | Sep 22, 2023 | In Spotlight
I am one of the INFANT State-wide Implementation Coordinators, job sharing with Kathy McConell and working closely with the INFANT researchers. I have a Master of Nutrition and Dietetics and a Master of Public Health and have worked in Clinical paediatric dietetics,...
In Spotlight: Kathy McConell
by Editorial Team | Feb 3, 2023 | In Spotlight
As the INFANT State-wide Implementation Coordinator, a role I job share with Anthea Gregoriou, we work to scale up INFANT across Victoria, that is offering INFANT to all 79 LGAs. We support those interested in implementing INFANT working closely on how best to set up...
In Spotlight: Sonya Stanley
by Editorial Team | Nov 25, 2022 | In Spotlight
I am the Strategy Coordinator for INFANT, and part of the implementation team that works closely with the research team. My background is a Community Dietitian and I’ve worked in population health in multiple areas across Australia, focusing on ways to make it easier...
In Spotlight: Dr Sarah Marshall
by Editorial Team | Sep 26, 2022 | In Spotlight
Meet Dr Sarah Marshall, a researcher with the INFANT team. Sarah was previously working with INFANT team as Research Project Manager from 2019-2022, and Postdoctoral Research Fellow from 2021-2022. While working with INFANT, Sarah was undertaking her PhD with the...
In Spotlight: Dr Meg Adam
by Editorial Team | Jun 21, 2022 | In Spotlight
Meet Dr Meg Adam, the most recent addition to the INFANT team as Research Project Manager. Megs professional career encompasses a journey that has addressed the social determinants of health, food policy, food security and preventive health from both a policy and...
In Spotlight: Dr Kidane Gebremariam
by Editorial Team | May 12, 2022 | In Spotlight
I’m an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow for the Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN) and a member of the INFANT team, specifically, working on the My Baby Now App. I will work on adapting the app to better engage Dads in supporting their...
In Spotlight: Fiona Mitchell
by Editorial Team | Mar 23, 2022 | In Spotlight
I am a Mununjali Bundjalung woman from southeast Queensland, an Associate Research Fellow with Deakin Rural Health and a PhD student with Deakin University.. My PhD will focus on ‘Promoting Healthy Eating and Active Play from the Start of Life for Victorian Aboriginal...
In Spotlight: Dr Victoria Brown
by Editorial Team | Nov 30, 2021 | In Spotlight
Email: victoria.brown@deakin.edu.au LinkedIn: https://au.linkedin.com/in/vicki-brown-36773786 I am an Alfred Deakin Postdoctoral Research Fellow of Deakin Health Economics (DHE) within the Institute for Health Transformation at Deakin University. Deakin Health...
In Spotlight: Professor Liliana Orellana
by Editorial Team | Aug 9, 2021 | In Spotlight
Professor Liliana Orellana |l.orellana@deakin.edu.au I am a Professor of Biostatistics and Director of the Deakin Biostatistics Unit. The Biostatistics unit is a platform that provides open-access consulting and collaborative support to researchers and PhD students in...
In Spotlight: Professor Elizabeth Denney-Wilson
by Maddie Brake | May 17, 2021 | In Spotlight
I am a Professor of Nursing at Sydney University and Sydney Local Health District. I co-developed the My Baby Now app and am one of the leaders of the Infant Feeding, Active play and NuTrition (INFANT) effectiveness trial. In my role with the health district, I also work closely with Child and Family Health Nurses – so I know a lot about how they work and the complexities of providing care to families.