{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,9,16]],"date-time":"2026-09-16T08:16:30Z","timestamp":1789546590360,"version":"build-2803163510"},"reference-count":22,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"1","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,3]],"date-time":"2022-01-03T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1641168000000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"funder":[{"name":"Nestle Nutrition Institute","award":["01\/2020"],"award-info":[{"award-number":["01\/2020"]}]}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Nutrients"],"abstract":"<jats:p>The Australian Feeding Infants and Toddler Study 2021 (OzFITS 2021) is a nationwide survey of Australian caregivers\u2019 infant and toddler feeding practices. Here, we describe breastfeeding rates and duration, use of breastmilk substitutes, and introduction of complementary (solid) foods, including common food allergens. Caregivers (n = 1140) were recruited by a digital marketing company and were interviewed using a structured telephone questionnaire to obtain information. Breastfeeding was initiated in 98% of infants, but the duration of exclusive breastfeeding to six months was less than 1%. Nearly 40% of children continued to receive breastmilk beyond one year, with 10% of toddlers receiving breastmilk at two years. One-quarter of infants were introduced to solid foods between 4 to 5 months, and nearly all infants had received solid foods by 7 months. New guidelines encourage the early introduction of potential food allergens to reduce the risk of allergy, and by 12 months, over 90% of children had been given eggs and peanuts. One-third of children received no breastmilk substitutes during their first year. One-third of infants first received breastmilk substitutes following birth and before discharge from the hospital. Of these infants, 30% ceased breastmilk substitute use after discharge. Our findings suggest a high rate of continued breastfeeding with 44% receiving breastmilk beyond 1 year. One approach to increase the duration of exclusive breastfeeding is to reduce breastmilk substitute use while in hospital.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/nu14010206","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,9]],"date-time":"2022-01-09T20:21:56Z","timestamp":1641759716000},"page":"206","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":39,"title":["The Australian Feeding Infants and Toddler Study (OzFITS 2021): Breastfeeding and Early Feeding Practices"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"14","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0642-9145","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Merryn J.","family":"Netting","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Women and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"Nutrition Department, Women\u2019s and Children\u2019s Health Network, Adelaide, SA 5006, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-3336-3153","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Najma A.","family":"Moumin","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"given":"Emma J.","family":"Knight","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"School of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0001-5197-7987","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rebecca K.","family":"Golley","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Caring Futures Institute, College of Nursing and Health Sciences, Flinders University, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0003-3832-541X","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Maria","family":"Makrides","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-0667-4300","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Tim J.","family":"Green","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Women and Kids Theme, South Australian Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"},{"name":"Discipline of Paediatrics, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia"}],"role":[{"vocabulary":"crossref","role":"author"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2022,1,3]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"475","DOI":"10.1016\/S0140-6736(15)01024-7","article-title":"Breastfeeding in the 21st century: Epidemiology, mechanisms, and lifelong effect","volume":"387","author":"Victoria","year":"2016","journal-title":"Lancet"},{"key":"ref_2","unstructured":"WHO (World Health Organisation) (2021, October 09). 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