An enquiry into the attitudes of Muslim Asian mothers regarding infant feeding practices and dental health

Recent studies have highlighted some unfavourable dietary practices among Asian infants in the UK. A number of reasons for such nutritional patterns have been suggested. In the present study, attitudes, beliefs and expectations of 100 first-generation Muslim Asian mothers regarding infant feeding practices were explored through group discussions in their mother tongue.
It was found that mothers generally favoured breast-feeding but lacked knowledge of weaning practices. There was great emphasis on the consumption of milk. The advice from health professionals to discontinue using a feeding bottle by 12 months of age was not considered acceptable. Some mothers thought the change might cause infants to stop drinking milk and that there was little alternative suitable nourishing food available for that age group. The main requirement for infant foods was that they must be halal. Sugar was used either because it ensured that more milk would be consumed, or because it was considered to be intrinsically beneficial. Some mothers fed children on demand, some stated that children chose what they wanted to eat, and that mothers lacked firm control of dietary intake.
Against a background of conflicting advice from health professionals, pressure from in-laws, and the powerful influence of advertising, there is considerable scope for the training of health professionals and for continuing education for families and communities.