In the 15 years since the adoption of the original Innocenti Declaration in 1990, remarkable progress has been made in improving infant and young child feeding practices worldwide. However, in view of the goals still to be achieved, participants at the event, “Celebrating Innocenti 1990-2005: Achievements, Challenges and Future Imperatives”, held on 22 November 2005 in Italy, have adopted a revised version - the Innocenti Declaration 2005. You can now download a copy of the Innocenti Declaration 2005 by visiting www.innocenti15.net

The latest issue of Keeping abreast is now available here.

Peer support
The document Peer support as an intervention to increase the incidence and duration of breastfeeding in Northern Ireland: what is the evidence? is now available here.

Revised for 2008: blueprint for action on protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in Europe
The European document entitled Protection, promotion and support of breastfeeding in Europe: a blueprint for action was launched at a conference in Dublin Castle on 17-18 June 2004. This document provided important focus and guidance for breastfeeding in Europe and sits alongside the WHO Global Strategy on Infant and Young Child Feeding. A new version of the blueprint, revised for 2008, has been produced following lessons learned from various pilot projects which took place in Europe. While this new document is not substantially different from the previous blueprint, it is now a very useful planning tool for policy and decision makers and provides practical guidance to professionals directly involved in developing action plans.

The revised 2008 Blueprint for action is available as a pdf here.

New weaning recommendations for Northern Ireland
The Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety has endorsed new recommendations on breastfeeding duration and weaning onto solid foods. Based on WHO guidance, the new recommendations can be summarised as:

• Breastmilk is the best form of nutrition for infants; it provides all the nutrients a baby needs.
• Exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months of an infant’s life.
• Six months is the recommended age for the introduction of solid foods for both breast and formula fed infants.
• Breastfeeding (and/or breastmilk substitutes, if used) should continue beyond the first six months along with appropriate types and amounts of solid foods.
• Mothers who are unable to, or choose not to, follow these recommendations should be supported to optimise their infants’ nutrition.

The guidelines issued by the Chief Medical Officer and Chief Nursing Officer for Northern Ireland can be viewed here.

The following WHO documents offer further information on this issue:

• The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding. A systematic review
  http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/optimal_duration_of_exc_bfeeding_review_eng.pdf

• The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding. Report of an expert consultation
  http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/optimal_duration_of_exc_bfeeding_report_eng.pdf

• Nutrient adequacy of exclusive breastfeeding for the term infant
  http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/nut_adequacy_of_exc_bfeeding_eng.pdf

• Global strategy for infant and young child feeding. The optimal duration of exclusive breastfeeding
  http://www.who.int/nutrition/publications/gs_infant_feeding_text_eng.pdf