Infant Formula Affordability Negatively Impacts Parental Wellbeing, Financial Security and Safe Feeding Practices in the UK

In the UK, media reporting has highlighted the impact of high infant formula prices upon parent wellbeing and feeding practices. We explored this issue through surveys (n = 261) and interviews (n = 20) with parents who were struggling to afford infant formula, and surveys (n = 137) and interviews (n = 21) with stakeholders in infant feeding, parenting and food insecurity. Almost all parents and stakeholders identified a detrimental impact upon parental mental and physical health, relationships, social and emotional wellbeing. Parents described feeling shame, anxiety and sadness, compounded if mothers wanted to breastfeed but could not. Some continued to breastfeed through pain whilst others stopped because they worried their diet was insufficient. To afford milk some parents reported restricting their own food or heating, returning to work early and getting into debt. Almost half sourced formula, including opened products, from social media marketplaces (46.0%) or bought formulas marketed for older babies (45.2%). Over a third (39.1%) reported using an unsafe feeding practice, including using leftover formula for a feed later (28.7%), reducing sterilisation (21.5%), and watering down feeds (13.8%). Many realised these were not recommended practices and felt guilty and anxious. Although a third were supported by Healthy/Best Start allowance, many families did not qualify for benefits or financial support and often had two working parents. Reduced maternity pay, high childcare costs and the broader cost-of-living crisis, affected affordability. Our data highlight an urgent need for intervention, including enhanced emergency provision pathways, stronger controls on formula marketing, infant formula price regulation, and enhanced breastfeeding support.