Diet and Nutrition Survey of Infants and Young Children in Scotland, 2011

Key Findings

Overall findings

Infants and young children aged 4 to 18 months in DNSIYCS were reported to consume a varied diet; dietary recommendations were generally met by the majority of the survey population. Food consumption patterns and macro and micronutrient intakes were in general very similar in Scotland as for the UK.

The proportion of children who had ever been breastfed was lower in DNSIYCS (68%) than in the UK DNSIYC sample (78%), and lower than the Scottish results in the Infant Feeding Survey (IFS) of 2010 (74%). Thirty two per cent of infants had never been breastfed, and of those who were breastfed, 65% were not breastfed beyond three months of age. Infant formula was the largest contributor to energy intake for children aged under 12 months (28% to 56%) while the food category 'milk and milk products' was the largest contributor (27%) for those aged 12 to 18 months, similar to the UK.

A progression in ability to eat pureed and lumpy foods, finger foods, drink from a cup or beaker with a spout, and use of a spoon was reported with age. Most of the children who had food other than milk 'almost always' or 'sometimes' (62%) had the same food as their parents, or 'sometimes' had a different meal to, but prepared by, their parents (49%). A substantial proportion (23%) 'never' had the same food as their parents, although this was more common for younger children. Over half (59%) of children who had food other than milk had eaten a commercial baby or toddler meal and a fifth had eaten a commercially prepared adult ready meal, which was similar to the UK. Baby rice was the most common first food for children in DNSIYCS (63%), followed by pureed fruit or vegetables (18%).

Mean total fruit and vegetable consumption, including the contribution from mixed dishes, was relatively high (similar to consumption in teenagers^[17]) ranging from 96g per day for children aged 4 to 6 months to 176g per day for those aged 12 to 18 months, equivalent to one to two 80g adult portions per day. When tested statistically, results were similar to the UK with the exception of fruit consumption, which was significantly higher in Scotland for children aged 4 to 11 months.

White bread was the most commonly consumed bread in children aged 7 to 18 months (consumed by 36% to 69% across the age groups). At least 27% of children in these age groups consumed wholemeal bread. Breakfast cereal consumption increased with age, so that over 80% of those 12 to 18 months consumed this in the four day period. The proportion of children consuming biscuits (72% for the highest age group); 'buns, cakes, pastries and fruit pies' (34% the highest); savoury snacks (42% the highest); and 'sugar, preserves and confectionery' (65% the highest) increased with age.

Mean consumption of beverages other than milk increased with age, with the most frequent consumption in older age groups, after milk and water, being low calorie soft drinks, consumed by 4% of those aged 4 to 6 months, rising to 51% of those aged 12 to 18 months. Fruit juice was consumed by 9% of children aged 4 to 6 months rising to 25% of those aged 12 to 18 months. The food category 'yoghurt, fromage frais and other dairy desserts' was consumed by 48% of children aged 4 to 6 months, rising to 82% of those aged 12 to 18 months.

In general, children in DNSIYCS were taller (i.e. longer), heavier and had larger head circumferences than the UK-WHO Growth Standard for their age and sex. This was also seen for the UK sample. This might be partially explained by the predominance of formula feeding by this group at the time of the survey, as predominantly formula fed children are on average larger for their age compared to exclusively or predominantly breastfed children on which these growth standards are based. Research shows that breastfed children tend to gain weight at a slower and healthier pace. At age 4 to 11 months, both boys and girls in DNSIYCS were significantly taller (longer) than those in the DNSIYC UK sample. Girls in Scotland also had significantly greater average weight and head circumference measurements across the age groups than the UK sample.