Hello and thank you for your interest in helping us.

Mothers and families work hard to make sure their babies have the food they need to grow well and be healthy. Sometimes parents can benefit from information or support to help them make decisions and to get feeding off to a good start. We are working on a long-term plan (also known as a strategy) to ensure mothers and families get the support they need with baby feeding. You can help us by telling us about your experiences and what would have made things easier for you.

What is infant feeding?

‘Infant feeding’ is any way of giving a baby food. That food might be formula or breastmilk – and as the baby gets older it will also include solid food. Sometimes babies are fed directly at the breast and sometimes they are fed breastmilk or formula from a bottle. Many mothers do all of these things at different times.

What information or support might be needed?

Mothers and families might need:

• Information to help them decide how to feed their baby and to learn how to do that well
• Help with the baby’s first feeds and support to deal with any challenges
• Information about how and when to introduce solid foods

Mothers and families might also need a supportive approach from those around them. For example:

• Employers knowing how to help mothers when they return to work
• Local cafes being friendly and welcoming

How can you help us?

We are looking for mothers to share their views with us. We want the experience and expertise of mothers to be at the heart of this long-term plan.

You may have fed your baby formula or breastmilk or both. You may also feel strongly about supporting mothers and babies. If you have given birth in the last three years, we would like to hear from you.

What are the benefits of helping us?

By sharing your experiences and ideas with us, you will help us to develop an effective plan that will:

• Help mothers to feel confident in their decisions about baby feeding
• Make sure all mothers can get high quality support when they need it to help them overcome any challenges.
• Raise awareness amongst local employers, businesses and services so that mothers feel supported by those around them to feed their baby in the way that works best for them.

All of this will help to ensure that babies grow up healthy while also protecting mothers’ physical and mental health.

We’d love to hear what you think would help to make sure every family gets the support they need.

How can you get involved?

We have lots of different ways for you to take part and get your voice heard, including:

• joining one of our group meetings to think together with other mothers
• meeting with us for a one-to-one discussion

You can meet with us online (using Microsoft Teams), in person, or over the phone. If you have any questions or concerns about taking part, you are welcome to get in touch using the contact details below.

How long does it take to help?

Our group meetings usually last 90 minutes, with a comfort break. Our one-to-one interviews usually last between 30 – 60 minutes. We can pause a one-to-one interview and complete it on another date if you would find that helpful. You can also leave or end the interview at any time without needing to give a reason.

Will I get reimbursed to help?

We know that it can be hard to find time to help, particularly when you have a baby to look after. You will receive a voucher to thank you for your participation in the group meetings and one-to-one discussions:

• £20 for up to one hour of your time
• £40 for one to three hours of your time

What can you expect if you help us?

If you would like to share your experiences and opinions with us, we will:

• Ask you to complete the consent form below.
• Ask you questions and listen to your ideas about what our long-term plan could include. You don’t have to answer all our questions and you will have the chance to tell us which questions are important to you.
• Make anonymised notes of your answers to help us remember your views and ideas. This means that we won’t put your name to anything that you tell us and your full response to our questions will only be seen by Better Breastfeeding.
• Save your information securely.
• Give you the choice to be updated on the progress and outcome of this work.

Are there any risks to taking part?

By sharing your experiences with us, you may reflect on your experiences of feeding your baby. This includes thinking about any challenges that you faced. Depending on your experiences, this may bring up difficult feelings. We will be led by you in our meetings and do all that we can to support you through this process. For example, if you need to take time before responding, skip some questions, or need signposting to local support services.

Will the information I share be confidential?

Yes, everything you share with us will be confidential. The only exception to this is where we are concerned that you, or someone else, may not be safe. In this case, we may need to share information to keep you safe. Wherever possible, we will tell you if we need to do this.

Can my friend or partner join our meeting?

Absolutely. We want to help you feel as comfortable as possible. You are welcome to ask a family member, partner, or friend to stay with you while we meet.

What will happen after the meeting?

We will use your responses – along with those of other mothers and professionals in Kent – to guide our long-term plan. We will produce a full written strategy and a summary, but these will only include anonymous information from participants.

For more information about how we will use your personal information, please see our Privacy Notice.