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The next INFANT course in 2024 will be 22 April – 7 June 2024. Learn more.

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Facilitator log-in
 * About INFANT
   * What is INFANT?
   * Why INFANT?
   * The benefits
   * The impact
   * Contact us
 * Professionals
   * Deliver INFANT
     * Getting started
     * Resources
     * Translated resources
     * LGA case studies
     * Summary and policy
     * FAQs
 * About the research
   * History of INFANT
   * Partnership grant
   * Our partners
   * Our team
   * Publications
 * Facilitators
   * Facilitator log-in
   * Training
   * Refresher training
 * Mums, Dads, and Carers
   * About INFANT
   * Find INFANT near you
   * My Baby Now App
   * Join the Research
   * Translated resources
   * Other resources
 * News
 * Contact Us

 * About INFANT
   * What is INFANT?
   * Why INFANT?
   * The benefits
   * The impact
   * Contact us
 * Professionals
   * Deliver INFANT
     * Getting started
     * Resources
     * Translated resources
     * LGA case studies
     * Summary and policy
     * FAQs
 * About the research
   * History of INFANT
   * Partnership grant
   * Our partners
   * Our team
   * Publications
 * Facilitators
   * Facilitator log-in
   * Training
   * Refresher training
 * Mums, Dads, and Carers
   * About INFANT
   * Find INFANT near you
   * My Baby Now App
   * Join the Research
   * Translated resources
   * Other resources
 * News
 * Contact Us

 * About INFANT
   * What is INFANT?
   * Why INFANT?
   * The benefits
   * The impact
   * Contact us
 * Professionals
   * Deliver INFANT
     * Getting started
     * Resources
     * Translated resources
     * LGA case studies
     * Summary and policy
     * FAQs
 * About the research
   * History of INFANT
   * Partnership grant
   * Our partners
   * Our team
   * Publications
 * Facilitators
   * Facilitator log-in
   * Training
   * Refresher training
 * Mums, Dads, and Carers
   * About INFANT
   * Find INFANT near you
   * My Baby Now App
   * Join the Research
   * Translated resources
   * Other resources
 * News
 * Contact Us

 * About INFANT
   * What is INFANT?
   * Why INFANT?
   * The benefits
   * The impact
   * Contact us
 * Professionals
   * Deliver INFANT
     * Getting started
     * Resources
     * Translated resources
     * LGA case studies
     * Summary and policy
     * FAQs
 * About the research
   * History of INFANT
   * Partnership grant
   * Our partners
   * Our team
   * Publications
 * Facilitators
   * Facilitator log-in
   * Training
   * Refresher training
 * Mums, Dads, and Carers
   * About INFANT
   * Find INFANT near you
   * My Baby Now App
   * Join the Research
   * Translated resources
   * Other resources
 * News
 * Contact Us


INFANT

Healthy eating and active play

Supporting families from the start of life

Become a facilitator



“I have really enjoyed the INFANT program. The My Baby Now app has been so
helpful in discussing topics and referring to with parents during the consults.
The information is easy to follow and understand for parents. I have found that
parents really enjoy reading new information that is up to date and evidence
based.”

INFANT facilitator



“I love the resources and how the whole program has been set up. I love that as
a facilitiator- everything has been provided- videos, pamphlets, posters etc.
The only thing that is needed is a willing spirit and participants. I really
look forward to sharing this program with my local community to benefit all the
children we see.” 

INFANT facilitator




WHAT IS INFANT?

 * INFANT (INfant Feeding, Active play and NuTrition) is designed to help
   families with healthy eating, active play and reduced screen time from the
   start of their baby’s life.
 * INFANT consists of four group sessions for mums, dads and carers led by a
   professional, with content reinforced via a mobile app called My Baby Now.
 * A guiding principle of INFANT is that mums, dads and carers are provided with
   information before it is needed – this is referred to as anticipatory
   guidance.
 * INFANT also provides an opportunity for mums, dads and carers to support each
   other’s learning through shared experiences, tips and strategies and through
   social connection.

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FACE-TO-FACE GROUP SESSIONS



MOBILE APP AND WEBSITE

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DEVELOPED BY EXPERTS

 * The four group sessions run for around 90 minutes and are delivered when
   infants are 3, 6, 9 and 12 months.
 * INFANT sessions are delivered by staff such as Maternal and Child Health
   Nurses, Dietitians, and Health Promotion Officers who have received INFANT
   facilitator training.
 * INFANT facilitators provide contemporary, evidence-informed information that
   is tailored to the parents and families who attend their groups, while also
   promoting group dynamics and sharing of ideas.

The My Baby Now app and website is the result of 5 years of research with mums,
dads, carers and health professionals. My Baby Now complements the face-to-face
group sessions and extends support for mums, dads and carers from their baby’s
birth and into the toddler years. It includes reinforcing messages for mums,
dads, and carers; personalised just for them and their baby’s age and stage of
development. It also provides opportunities for INFANT facilitators to tailor
content delivery and link parents to content outside of the face-to-face
sessions.

INFANT has been developed and reviewed by experts including Maternal and Child
Health Nurses, dietitians and health behaviour specialists. The sessions align
with Victoria’s universal Key age and stage visits and all messages are
consistent with national dietary and physical activity guidelines.


WHY INFANT?



Promoting healthy lifestyle habits early in life is important for optimal growth
and development as well as the prevention of chronic diseases later in life.

&

Health trajectories for the whole of our lives are established in the first 1000
days of life. It makes good sense to ensure the best trajectories for all
children.



New mums, dads and carers are responsive to parenting information and support
that helps them to promote healthy eating, active play and in turn, healthy
development of their child



The main influences on infant’s and children’s health behaviours in their first
year of life are the family, home environment, and health services.

R

Offering INFANT as routine practice within local health services maximises the
opportunity to support families at this critical time of their infant’s life.




THE BENEFITS OF INFANT

INFANT is based on more than 15 years of research undertaken within the
Institute for Physical Activity and Nutrition (IPAN), Deakin University,
Australia. In 2008, INFANT was delivered as a research trial with 540 families
across 14 Victorian local government areas (LGAs). INFANT uptake was high and
had significant effects for families taking part.

INFANT HELPS CHILDREN

Z
Reduce sedentary time (children watched 25% less television)
Campbell KJ, Lioret S, McNaughton SA, et al. A parent-focused intervention to
reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial. Pediatrics.
2013;131(4):652–660.
See all | Cross ref
Z
Mothers consistently reported high levels of program usefulness and relevance
Campbell KJ, Lioret S, McNaughton SA, et al. A parent-focused intervention to
reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial. Pediatrics.
2013;131(4):652–660.
See all | Cross ref
Z
Improve diet (children consumed 25% fewer sweet snacks and had improved dietary
quality)
Spence AC, McNaughton SA, Lioret S, Hesketh KD, Crawford DA, Campbell KJ. A
health promotion intervention can affect diet quality in early childhood. J
Nutr. 2013;143(10):1672–8.
See all | Cross ref

INFANT HELPS MUMS, DADS AND CARERS

Z
Improve dietary patterns of mothers
Lioret S, Campbell KJ, Crawford D, Spence AC, Hesketh K, McNaughton SA. A parent
focused child obesity prevention intervention improves some mother obesity risk
behaviors: The Melbourne infant program. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2012;9:100.
See all | Cross ref
Z
Improve mothers’ knowledge and self-efficacy
Spence AC, Campbell KJ, Crawford DA, McNaughton SA, Hesketh KD. Mediators of
improved child diet quality following a health promotion intervention: The
Melbourne InFANT Program. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2014;11:137.
See all | Cross ref
Z
Improve infant feeding practises Spence AC, McNaughton SA, Lioret S, Hesketh KD,
Crawford DA, Campbell KJ. A health promotion intervention can affect diet
quality in early childhood. J Nutr. 2013;143(10):1672–8. See all
| Cross ref
Z

Connect with other mums, dads and carers and services locally

INFANT IS ENGAGING

Z
Mothers consistently reported high levels of program usefulness and relevance
Campbell KJ, Lioret S, McNaughton SA, et al. A parent-focused intervention to
reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial. Pediatrics.
2013;131(4):652–660
See all Cross ref
Z
68% of participants attended the majority (4 or more) of intervention sessions
Campbell KJ, Lioret S, McNaughton SA, et al. A parent-focused intervention to
reduce infant obesity risk behaviors: a randomized trial. Pediatrics.
2013;131(4):652–660.
See all | Cross ref
Z
Mums, dads and carers often found the group sessions important for support and
social connections
Love P, Laws R, Litterbach E, Campbell KJ.Factors Influencing Parental
Engagement in an Early Childhood Obesity Prevention Program Implemented at
Scale: The Infant Program. Nutrients. 2018;10(4)
See all | Cross ref

INFANT HEALTH OUTCOMES ARE SUSTAINED

Z
After participating in the INFANT program, the benefits for children continue at
age 3.5 and 5 years
Z
Sustained improvement in child diet (more veg and fruit, less sweet drinks)
Z
Maintained reduced screen time (less TV)

INFANT ENHANCES SERVICE DELIVERY

Z

Increased professionals’ confidence to integrate healthy eating and active play
messages into routine consultations with parents

Z

Reduced the need for additional consultation with parents to address
food-related issues e.g. introducing solids, fussy eating


GETTING STARTED WITH INFANT

INFANT has structured content and resources to guide facilitators but there is
flexibility with how INFANT is embedded into services, who facilitates it, where
it is held and how long it takes to establish. 

Learn more


INFANT IMPACT: POLICY

As a result of the successful trial and proof of concept of small-scale
translation, INFANT has been recommended in key state and national health
policies in Australia and internationally, including:

International

 * INFANT identified in US CDC review as the strongest international model for
   wide-spread implementation of a community complementary feeding intervention.

National

 * INFANT is now included in The Australian Institute of Family Studies
   guidebook on evidence-based programs. INFANT is approved for use under the
   50% requirement for Communities for Children Facilitating Partners for
   organisations running programs funded by the Department of Social Services
   (DSS).
 * INFANT is listed on the VegKit registry, an interactive online library of
   evaluated initiatives that promote children’s vegetable intake.

Victorian

 * Healthy kids, Healthy futures – the Victorian Government’s five-year action
   plan to support children and young people to be healthy, active and well.
   INFANT is included in Priority 3 as a priority action.
 * INFANT has been recommended in The Victorian Public Health and Wellbeing Plan
   (2019-2023)
 * The 2019 consensus statement for obesity prevention, A Healthier Start for
   Victorians, released by VicHealth’s Healthy Eating and Active Living (HEAL)
   roundtable. INFANT is an example listed under Recommendation 4: Implement
   initiatives to improve family diets, particularly in children’s early years
 * INFANT has been endorsed by the Victorian Department of Health who are
   providing additional implementation support funding for enhancing
   implementation 2020-2022.
 * INFANT has been included in the new HEAS resource for Healthy Eating and Oral
   Health in Victorian Early Childhood Services, published online
 * INFANT has been included in Victorian Department of Health summary report on
   Co-benefits of a healthy lifestyle for mental wellbeing, published online
 * INFANT continues to be embedded in local health policies. For example, Swan
   Hill Public Health and Wellbeing Plan. Refer to page 28, strategy 12. Support
   and educate parents of young children to develop healthy habits in early
   years.

INFANT is available to any interested organisations. Implementing organisations
have access to online facilitator training, a virtual community of practice and
all INFANT resources. Offering INFANT as routine practice within organisations
maximises the opportunity to support families at this critical time of their
infant’s life.

In the spirit of reconciliation, the INFANT team acknowledges the Traditional
Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea
and community. The INFANT team at Deakin University is based on the land of
the Wadawurrung, Wurundjeri and Boon Wurrung people. We pay our respect to their
elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres
Strait Islander peoples today.

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