Infant feeding education needs a national approach

Policy paper and recommendations to the UK Government

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Families need timely, skilled and compassionate infant feeding support – but access remains inconsistent

Policy paper | September 2026

This policy paper by the UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative makes recommendations to the UK Government for a coordinated national approach to infant feeding education, alongside investment in specialist training for the infant feeding workforce and increased recognition of infant feeding and lactation care as a specialist area of practice.

Findings explore how improving infant feeding education would translate directly into stronger protection for maternal and child rights. By equipping all relevant health workers with role-appropriate, evidence-based knowledge and skills, services can reduce health inequities, improve consistency of care and better support families to meet their feeding goals.

Drawing on insights from current research and policy, the 2026 consultation of the Baby Friendly standards and the 2024 Baby Friendly survey on infant feeding education, this paper highlights gaps in training, specialist clinical lactation education, workforce recognition and career progression.

It also shows how implementation of the Baby Friendly standards is contributing positively towards raising standards of care, shifting culture and practice and helping to create specialised infant feeding roles within health services.

Shereen Fisher, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director, said:

The evidence is clear: infant feeding must be recognised as a specialist area of practice, with national leadership committed to strengthening training, ongoing professional development and routes into specialist roles.

A coordinated national approach to infant feeding education is essential to protecting the rights of babies, mothers and primary caregivers, and ensuring every family receives timely, skilled and compassionate support, wherever they live.

Shereen Fisher, UNICEF UK Baby Friendly Initiative Programme Director