Understanding the lived experience of low-income UK parents’ and carers’, management of infant feeding challenges in the context of the current cost of living crisis: The Diet &amp; Health Inequalities (DIO Food) Project
Authors: Hunter Emma , Douglas Flora 
Published: January 2025

Background: As the cost-of-living crisis continues, food charities report increased demand from families with young children and babies, suggesting, infants in low-income UK households are amongst the most food insecure of our citizens. This is concerning, firstly, due to the nutritional requirements during pregnancy and breastfeeding and secondly, because the first 1000 days of life are recognised as a critical period in child development and a time when good nutrition is essential. For families choosing to bottle feed, the high cost of infant formula presents an additional challenge, especially food banks don’t typically provide formula due to UNICEF breastfeeding guidelines. While much has been done to track and monitor household level food insecurity in the UK recently, maternal and infant food insecurity is poorly characterised and understood. Aim: Qualitative investigation of low-income parents infant feeding intentions and practices in the UK as part of the UKRI-funded DIO-Food Project. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with eligible parents or carers living in Scotland and England between December and June 2024. Interviews were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analysed.Findings: Seven key themes were identified: 1. The struggle to afford food and formula in the face of reduced income reflects the challenge faced by parents trying to feed more mouths on reduced income or benefits; 2. Hard work and sacrifice: parents actions to secure food for their baby relates to strategies used and compromises made by parents to ensure their baby is fed; 3. Don’t ask, don’t tell; conversations with health professionals highlights the lack of discussion with healthcare professionals around parents financial situation and strained conversations surrounding bottle feeding; 4. Acknowledging breastfeeding benefits but encountering challenges; 5. Earning but struggling: not eligible for financial assistance specifically focuses on financial challenges experienced by parents in work; 6. Income shortfall struggles: the essential support of family and the 3rd sector to meet needs highlights the role of family and third sector organisations in alleviating parents’ financial shortfall; 7. Stigma and guilt accessing and receiving support relates to the mental and emotional toll parents experience when accessing support to provide for their baby.Conclusions: Parents use agency to secure food for themselves and their families on a limited budget. Feeding related challenges may be exacerbated by a lack of conversations between healthcare professionals and new parents on their financial situation and creates a missed opportunity to ensure new parents and infants have the financial support they are entitled to. Open and honest discussions around both breast and bottle feeding may be necessary to support parents feeding intentions. Family and third sector organisations play a crucial role in the provision of instrumental support for new parents.