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Babies’ Movement and Milestones

Babies’ Movement and Milestones

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...

Download the new My Baby Now app today!

Download the new My Baby Now app today!

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

The My Baby Now app – free for parents and caregivers

As health professionals, you know that parents 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, trustworthy...

INFANT implementation success across Victorian LGAs

INFANT implementation success across Victorian LGAs

The successful implementation of INFANT continues to grow across Victoria. Health professionals from across Victoria are continually engaging in the INFANT training course, enhancing their skills and readiness to facilitate the INFANT program within their LGA. As each...

INFANT child health benefits extend to five years of age, new research finds

INFANT child health benefits extend to five years of age, new research finds

Researchers have examined the long-term outcomes of the INfant Feeding, Active play and NuTrition (INFANT), within Deakin’s Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), on children’s health behaviours. Positive health behaviours established during infancy can be maintained up to school age, says Deakin University child health expert, Professor Kylie Hesketh.

Featured Recipe: Rainbow Chips

Featured Recipe: Rainbow Chips

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

Featured Recipe: Bircher Muesli

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

Featured Recipe: Fish Patties

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...

Featured Recipe: Lentil Dhal

Featured Recipe: Lentil Dhal

Winter is nearing an end but we’re still feeling the chill. Warm up your winter with this nourishing Lentil Dhal.   This recipe is great for parents of baby’s that are starting their journey with solid food and experimenting with different textures. Try playing around...

Featured Recipe: Pear Muffins 

Featured Recipe: Pear Muffins 

We’re always on the hunt for recipes that are both nutritious and delicious, so we’re excited to share this simple recipe for Pear Muffins.  This recipe is a great way to turn those excess or overripe pears sitting in your fruit bowl into a satisfying afternoon snack....

Featured Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese

Featured Recipe: Spaghetti Bolognese

Winter is well and truly here, and we know everyone is starting to feel the chill. Regardless of whether you embrace the cold or are counting down the days until Spring, Winter is the perfect time to get cosy and focus on nourishing yourself and your family. Spaghetti...

Featured Recipe: Veggie Omelette

Featured Recipe: Veggie Omelette

Looking for ways to include more vegetables into your baby’s diet? Try adding veggies into every meal – they’re versatile and can even be incorporated into breakfast! Remember, it’s all about consistency. So, the more you include veggies into each of your baby’s...

A mindful approach to screen time with your baby

A mindful approach to screen time with your baby

We’re fortunate to have access to endless support, education, and entertainment at the touch of a button – even when we’re on the go. As technology advances, however, we’re starting to see growing rates of screen use and we still don’t fully understand the impact of...

In Spotlight: Kathy McConell

In Spotlight: Kathy McConell

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

In Spotlight: Sonya Stanley

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

In Spotlight: Dr Sarah Marshall

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

In Spotlight: Dr Meg Adam

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 

In Spotlight: Dr Kidane Gebremariam 

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

In Spotlight: Fiona Mitchell

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

In Spotlight: Dr Victoria Brown

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

In Spotlight: Professor Liliana Orellana

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

In Spotlight: Professor Elizabeth Denney-Wilson

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.

In Spotlight: Dr Jennifer Browne

In Spotlight: Dr Jennifer Browne

jennifer.browne@deakin.edu.au My research focuses on health equity for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples, and the ways in which food and nutrition policies and programs are able to be effective and acceptable for Aboriginal people in Victoria. At INFANT,...

State-wide Scale-up

Wilson, E., Salmon, J., McCallum, Z., & Laws, R. (2023, 2023-January-13). Mapping intervention components from a randomized controlled trial to scale-up of an early life nutrition and movement intervention: The INFANT program [Original Research]. Frontiers in Public Health, 10. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1026856

Laws R, Love P, Hesketh KD., Koorts H, Denney-Wilson E, Moodie M, Brown V, Ong KL, Browne J, Marshall S, Lioret S, Orellana L, Campbell KJ. (2021) “Protocol for an Effectiveness-Implementation Hybrid Trial to Evaluate Scale up of an Evidence-Based Intervention Addressing Lifestyle Behaviours From the Start of Life: INFANT.” Front. Endocrinol. 12:1299. DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2021.717468

Small Scale Translation 

Love, P., R. Laws, K. Hesketh and K. Campbell (2018). “Lessons on early childhood obesity prevention interventions from the Victorian Infant Program.” Public Health Research & Practice. DOI: 10.17061/phrp2911904

Love, P., R. Laws, E. Litterbach and K. J. Campbell (2018). “Factors Influencing Parental Engagement in an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Program Implemented at Scale: The Infant Program.” Nutrients 10(4). DOI: 10.3390/nu10040509

Downing, K. L., K. J. Campbell, P. van der Pligt and K. D. Hesketh (2017). “Facilitator and Participant Use of Facebook in a Community-Based Intervention for Parents: The InFANT Extend Program.” Childhood Obesity 13(6): 443-454. DOI: 10.1089/chi.2017.0078

Campbell, K. J., K. D. Hesketh, S. A. McNaughton, K. Ball, Z. McCallum, J. Lynch and D. A. Crawford (2016). “The extended Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT Extend) Program: a cluster-randomized controlled trial of an early intervention to prevent childhood obesity.” BMC Public Health 16: 166. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-2836-0

Laws, R., K. D. Hesketh, K. Ball, C. Cooper, K. Vrljic and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Translating an early childhood obesity prevention program for local community implementation: a case study of the Melbourne InFANT Program.” BMC Public Health 16: 748. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-016-3361-x

Trial follow-up

Delisle Nyström, C., Cameron, A., Campbell, K., & Hesketh, K. (2021). Variation in outcomes of the Melbourne Infant, Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (INFANT) according to maternal education and age 2 and 3·5 years post-intervention. Public Health Nutrition, 1-9. DOI:10.1017/S1368980021000045

Hesketh, K.D., Salmon, J., McNaughton, S.A. Crawford, D. Abbott, G. Cameron, A.J., Lioret, D, Gold, L., Downing, K.L., and Campbell, K.J. (2020). Long-term outcomes (2 and 3.5 years post-intervention) of the INFANT early childhood intervention to improve health behaviors and reduce obesity: cluster randomised controlled trial follow-up. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 17, 95 . DOI: 10.1186/s12966-020-00994-9

Laws, R., A. D. Walsh, K. D. Hesketh, K. L. Downing, K. Kuswara and K. J. Campbell (2019). “Differences Between Mothers and Fathers of Young Children in Their Use of the Internet to Support Healthy Family Lifestyle Behaviors: Cross-Sectional Study.” J Med Internet Res 21(1): e11454. DOI: 10.2196/11454

Atkins, L. A., S. A. McNaughton, K. J. Campbell and E. A. Szymlek-Gay (2016). “Iron intakes of Australian infants and toddlers: findings from the Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial Program.” Br J Nutr 115(2): 285-293. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515004286

Lunn, P. L., S. Roberts, A. Spence, K. D. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Mothers’ perceptions of Melbourne InFANT Program: informing future practice.” Health Promot Int 31(3): 614-622. DOI: 10.1093/heapro/dav004

Lioret, S., A. J. Cameron, S. A. McNaughton, D. Crawford, A. C. Spence, K. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2015). “Association between maternal education and diet of children at 9 months is partially explained by mothers’ diet.” Matern Child Nutr 11(4): 936-947. DOI: 10.1111/mcn.12031

Cameron, A. J., K. Ball, K. D. Hesketh, S. A. McNaughton, J. Salmon, D. A. Crawford, S. Lioret and K. J. Campbell (2014). “Variation in outcomes of the Melbourne Infant, Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program according to maternal education and age.” Prev Med 58: 58-63. DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2013.10.021

Hesketh, K. D., K. Campbell, J. Salmon, S. A. McNaughton, Z. McCallum, A. Cameron, K. Ball, L. Gold, N. Andrianopoulos and D. Crawford (2013). “The Melbourne Infant Feeding, Activity and Nutrition Trial (InFANT) Program follow-up.” Contemp Clin Trials 34(1): 145-151. DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2012.10.008

Lioret, S., S. A. McNaughton, D. Crawford, A. C. Spence, K. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2012). “Parents’ dietary patterns are significantly correlated: findings from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program.” Br J Nutr 108(3): 518-526. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511005757

Lioret, S., S. A. McNaughton, D. Crawford, A. C. Spence, K. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2012). “Parents’ dietary patterns are significantly correlated: findings from the Melbourne Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial Program.” Br J Nutr 108(3): 518-526. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114511005757

Cameron, A. J., K. Hesketh, K. Ball, D. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2010). “Influence of peers on breastfeeding discontinuation among new parents: the Melbourne InFANT Program.” Pediatrics 126(3): e601-607. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2010-0771

Trial

Zheng, M., S. J. Bowe, K. D. Hesketh, K. Bolton, R. Laws, P. Kremer, K. K. Ong, S. Lioret, E. Denney-Wilson and K. J. Campbell (2019). “Relative effects of postnatal rapid growth and maternal factors on early childhood growth trajectories.” Paediatr Perinat Epidemiol. DOI: 10.1111/ppe.12541

Fernando, N. N. T., K. J. Campbell, S. A. McNaughton, M. Zheng and K. E. Lacy (2018). “Predictors of Dietary Energy Density among Preschool Aged Children.” Nutrients 10(2). DOI: 10.3390/nu10020178

Haines, J., K. L. Downing, L. Tang, K. J. Campbell and K. D. Hesketh (2018). “Associations between maternal concern about child’s weight and related behaviours and maternal weight-related parenting practices: a cross-sectional study.” Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 15(1): 104. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-018-0738-5

Spence, A. C., K. J. Campbell, S. Lioret and S. A. McNaughton (2018). “Early Childhood Vegetable, Fruit, and Discretionary Food Intakes Do Not Meet Dietary Guidelines, but Do Show Socioeconomic Differences and Tracking over Time.” J Acad Nutr Diet 118(9): 1634-1643 e1631. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.12.009

Barnett, L. M., N. D. Ridgers, K. Hesketh and J. Salmon (2017). “Setting them up for lifetime activity: Play competence perceptions and physical activity in young children.” J Sci Med Sport 20(9): 856-860. DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2017.03.003

Hesketh, K. D., K. L. Downing, K. Campbell, D. Crawford, J. Salmon and J. A. Hnatiuk (2017). “Proportion of infants meeting the Australian 24-hour Movement Guidelines for the Early Years: data from the Melbourne InFANT Program.” BMC Public Health 17(Suppl 5): 856. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4856-9

Campbell, K. J., G. Abbott, M. Zheng and S. A. McNaughton (2017). “Early Life Protein Intake: Food Sources, Correlates, and Tracking across the First 5 Years of Life.” J Acad Nutr Diet 117(8): 1188-1197 e1181. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2017.03.016

Walsh, A. D., D. Crawford, A. J. Cameron, K. J. Campbell and K. D. Hesketh (2017). “Associations between the physical activity levels of fathers and their children at 20 months, 3.5 and five years of age.” BMC Public Health 17(1): 628. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-017-4545-8

Barnett, L. M., J. Salmon and K. D. Hesketh (2016). “More active pre-school children have better motor competence at school starting age: an observational cohort study.” BMC Public Health 16(1): 1068. DOI:10.1186/s12889-016-3742-1

Collins, L. J., K. E. Lacy, K. J. Campbell and S. A. McNaughton (2016). “The Predictors of Diet Quality among Australian Children Aged 3.5 Years.” J Acad Nutr Diet 116(7): 1114-1126 e1112. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2015.12.014

Huddy, R. L., S. J. Torres, C. M. Milte, S. A. McNaughton, M. Teychenne and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Higher Adherence to the Australian Dietary Guidelines Is Associated with Better Mental Health Status among Australian Adult First-Time Mothers.” J Acad Nutr Diet 116(9): 1406-1412. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2016.01.010

Kuswara, K., R. Laws, P. Kremer, K. D. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2016). “The infant feeding practices of Chinese immigrant mothers in Australia: A qualitative exploration.” Appetite 105: 375-384. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.008

O’Halloran, S. A., C. A. Grimes, K. E. Lacy, K. J. Campbell and C. A. Nowson (2016). “Dietary Intake and Sources of Potassium and the Relationship to Dietary Sodium in a Sample of Australian Pre-School Children.” Nutrients 8(8). DOI: 10.3390/nu8080496

O’Halloran, S. A., C. A. Grimes, K. E. Lacy, C. A. Nowson and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Dietary sources and sodium intake in a sample of Australian preschool children.” BMJ Open 6(2): e008698. DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2015-008698

Spence, A. C., K. D. Hesketh, D. A. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Mothers’ perceptions of the influences on their child feeding practices – A qualitative study.” Appetite 105: 596-603. DOI: 10.1016/j.appet.2016.06.031

Spence, A. C., S. A. McNaughton, S. Lioret, K. D. Hesketh, D. A. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2013). “A health promotion intervention can affect diet quality in early childhood.” J Nutr 143(10): 1672-1678. DOI: 10.3945/jn.113.177931 

van der Pligt, P., E. K. Olander, K. Ball, D. Crawford, K. D. Hesketh, M. Teychenne and K. Campbell (2016). “Maternal dietary intake and physical activity habits during the postpartum period: associations with clinician advice in a sample of Australian first time mothers.” BMC Pregnancy Childbirth 16: 27. DOI: 10.1186/s12884-016-0812-4

Walsh, A. D., A. J. Cameron, D. Crawford, K. D. Hesketh and K. J. Campbell (2016). “Dietary associations of fathers and their children between the ages of 20 months and 5 years.” Public Health Nutr 19(11): 2033-2039. DOI: 10.1017/S136898001600077X

Walsh, A. D., A. J. Cameron, K. D. Hesketh, D. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2015). “Associations between dietary intakes of first-time fathers and their 20-month-old children are moderated by fathers’ BMI, education and age.” Br J Nutr 114(6): 988-994. DOI: 10.1017/S0007114515002755

Hesketh, K. D., D. A. Crawford, G. Abbott, K. J. Campbell and J. Salmon (2015). “Prevalence and stability of active play, restricted movement and television viewing in infants.” Early Child Development and Care 185(6): 883-894. DOI: 10.1080/03004430.2014.963066

Hnatiuk, J. A., J. Salmon, K. J. Campbell, N. D. Ridgers and K. D. Hesketh (2015). “Tracking of maternal self-efficacy for limiting young children’s television viewing and associations with children’s television viewing time: a longitudinal analysis over 15-months.” BMC Public Health 15: 517. DOI: 10.1186/s12889-015-1858-3

Walsh, A. D., S. Lioret, A. J. Cameron, K. D. Hesketh, S. A. McNaughton, D. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2014). “The effect of an early childhood obesity intervention on father’s obesity risk behaviors: the Melbourne InFANT Program.” Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 11: 18. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-11-18

Campbell, K. J., G. Hendrie, C. Nowson, C. A. Grimes, M. Riley, S. Lioret and S. A. McNaughton (2014). “Sources and correlates of sodium consumption in the first 2 years of life.” J Acad Nutr Diet 114(10): 1525-1532 e1522. DOI: 10.1016/j.jand.2014.04.028

Spence, A. C., K. J. Campbell, D. A. Crawford, S. A. McNaughton and K. D. Hesketh (2014). “Mediators of improved child diet quality following a health promotion intervention: the Melbourne InFANT Program.” Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 11: 137. DOI: 10.1186/s12966-014-0137-5

Campbell, K. J., S. Lioret, S. A. McNaughton, D. A. Crawford, J. Salmon, K. Ball, Z. McCallum, B. E. Gerner, A. C. Spence, A. J. Cameron, J. A. Hnatiuk, O. C. Ukoumunne, L. Gold, G. Abbott and K. D. Hesketh (2013). “A parent-focused intervention to reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial.” Pediatrics 131(4): 652-660. DOI: 10.1542/peds.2012-2576

Hnatiuk, J., J. Salmon, K. J. Campbell, N. D. Ridgers and K. D. Hesketh (2013). “Early childhood predictors of toddlers’ physical activity: longitudinal findings from the Melbourne InFANT Program.” Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 10: 123. DOI: 10.1186/1479-5868-10-123

Lioret, S., S. A. McNaughton, A. C. Spence, D. Crawford and K. J. Campbell (2013). “Tracking of dietary intakes in early childhood: the Melbourne InFANT Program.” Eur J Clin Nutr 67(3): 275-281. DOI: 10.1038/ejcn.2012.218

Hnatiuk, J., N. D. Ridgers, J. Salmon, K. Campbell, Z. McCallum and K. Hesketh (2012). “Physical activity levels and patterns of 19-month-old children.” Med Sci Sports Exerc 44(9): 1715-1720. DOI: 10.1249/MSS.0b013e31825825c4

McLeod, E. R., K. J. Campbell and K. D. Hesketh (2011). “Nutrition knowledge: a mediator between socioeconomic position and diet quality in Australian first-time mothers.” J Am Diet Assoc 111(5): 696-704. DOI: 10.1016/j.jada.2011.02.011

Campbell, K., K. Hesketh, D. Crawford, J. Salmon, K. Ball and Z. McCallum (2008). “The Infant Feeding Activity and Nutrition Trial (INFANT) an early intervention to prevent childhood obesity: cluster-randomised controlled trial.” BMC Public Health 8: 103. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2458-8-103