Choosing foods for infants: a qualitative study of the factors that influence mothers.

Background: Examining the experiences of parents making food choices for infants is important because ultimately this influences what infants eat. Infancy is a critical period when food preferences and eating behaviour begin to develop, shaping dietary patterns, growth and health outcomes. There is limited evidence regarding what or why foods are chosen for infants.

Natural history of dental caries in very young Australian children.

Background: Whilst the global burden of caries is increasing, the trajectory of decay in young children and the point at which prevention should occur has not been well established.

Aim: To identify the 'natural history' of dental caries in early childhood.

Design: A birth cohort study was established with 467 mother/child dyads followed at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 36 months of age.

An exploration of the views of Australian mothers on promoting child oral health.

Background: An important role for parents and caregivers in the prevention of dental caries in children is the early establishment of health promoting behaviours. This study aimed to examine mothers' views on barriers and facilitators to promoting child and family oral health.

Methods: Semi-structured interviews were undertaken with a purposive sample of mothers (n = 32) of young children.

A qualitative study of the factors that influence mothers when choosing drinks for their young children.

Background: The consumption of sweetened beverages is a known common risk factor for the development of obesity and dental caries in children and children consume sweet drinks frequently and in large volumes from an early age. The aim of this study was to examine factors that influence mothers when choosing drinks for their children.

Method: Semi-structured interviews (n = 32) were conducted with a purposive sample of mothers of young children from Victoria's Barwon South Western Region (selected from a larger cohort study to include families consuming different types of water, and different socioeconomic status and size).

Large reductions in child overweight and obesity in intervention and comparison communities 3 years after a community project.

What Is Already Known About This Subject: Childhood obesity has been increasing over decades and scalable, population-wide solutions are urgently needed to reverse this trend. Evidence is emerging that community-based approaches can reduce unhealthy weight gain in children. In some countries, such as Australia, the prevalence of childhood obesity appears to be flattening, suggesting that some population-wide changes may be underway.