The Wales National Lead for Breastfeeding brought together key stakeholders, including the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, to share examples of good practice and promote a whole system approach to infant feeding. Encouraging best practice in infant feeding can help give children in Wales the best start in life, and the event highlighted that there is a role for many health services and settings to encourage parents and caregivers to make informed choices.

The “Bright Spots” event brought members of the Welsh Infant Feeding Network and local public health teams together to celebrate innovation and good practice in infant feeding, with speakers from a range of organisations presenting.

The event made reference to the strategic vision set out in the All Wales Breastfeeding Five Year Action Plan. Public health researchers have highlighted that breast feeding is important for the health and development of infants and is an accessible and cost-effective approach to preventing a range of infectious and non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as childhood obesity and Type 2 diabetes. Increasing breastfeeding rates also contributes to the Welsh Government’s Healthy Weight, Healthy Wales strategy.

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