Subscribe to the Academy of Ideas Substack for more information on the next Battle and future events: https://clairefox.substack.com/subscribe BREAST, BOTTLES AND BABY-LED WEANING: SHOULD FEEDING BABIES BE THIS HARD? https://www.battleofideas.org.uk/session/breast-bottles-and-baby-led-weaning-should-feeding-babies-be-this-hard/ Feeding children can be a gruelling task. On top of the mess, the refusals and the sweating over the cooker, parents now have to contend with a new section of food commentary geared towards infants and toddlers. While some herald a new dawn of information about infant feeding, others have argued that science has taken precedence over the very basic common-sense aspect of parenting: what to make for dinner. Read any report on how babies are fed in the early months of life, and you will soon come across references to the UK’s ‘dismal’ and ‘troubling’ low breastfeeding rate. ‘Breast is best’ is not only promoted by the NHS and the government, but also written into law via restrictions on how formula can be marketed. Such is the preference for breastfeeding, many food banks are still not allowed to provide infant formula to needy families. Moreover, supporters of breastfeeding suggest that formula is an ‘ultra-processed food’ that is both bad for people and the environment. They point to previous scandals in developing nations around the marketing and use of formula milk and argue that breastfeeding is vital for nutrition and bonding between mother and baby. Furthermore, they suggest that many women stop breastfeeding before they would like to, because of remaining stigma around public feeding of babies. Do they have a point? A recent documentary found that packets of baby food marketed as ‘healthy’ were overstating their claims, with few nutrients left after the packaging process. The term ‘ultra-processed babies’ has started knocking about, with scrutiny over toddler snacks like crisps and wafers. Baby-led weaning – the idea of giving babies their own food to eat instead of puree – is now promoted as the only right way to introduce solids by the NHS. There seems to be new rules popping up every day as to how and what you should feed your child. For some, how to feed a baby is a practical, simple question. For others, it raises wider issues about motherhood and women’s autonomy. Should we care which way babies are fed, as long as they are fed? Are we too hung up on the idea of ‘ultra processed’ when what most parents need is speed and ease? Are the advantages of breastfeeding really as overwhelming as many advocates suggest? Is the focus on children’s eating habits a positive move or are we in danger of raising a nation of fussy eaters with paranoid parents? Speakers Milli Hill freelance journalist; founder, Positive Birth Movement; author, Ultra-Processed Women Dr Renée Hoenderkamp GP; broadcaster; author Catherine Roy maternity safety campaigner, Infant Feeding Alliance Dr Rebecca Steinfeld reproductive rights researcher; special projects lead, campaigns and communications team, British Pregnancy Advisory Service (BPAS) Chair Ella Whelan co-convenor, Battle of Ideas festival; journalist; author, What Women Want