Decolonising first solid foods for Māori babies

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-11-27 03:00

New Zealand

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Parenting practices grounded in Te Ao Māori often emphasise an instinctive, responsive approach to the transition from milks to solids, using natural whole-foods from the local environment. Interviews with wāhine Māori who had experience in caring for an infant revealed that mainstream advice often involved strict schedules on what and when to feed their babies, which did not align with their cultural values, practices and knowledge. Researchers suggest their findings should inform future nutrition guidelines to help reduce inequities in Māori infant health.