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Research shows at least a third of newborns receive formula in hospital, a practice shown to be associated with an increased risk of cow’s milk allergy.

One in three children in WA suffer iron deficiency leading to poor sleep, fussy eating, and behavioural difficulties. This project aims to develop mechanisms to prevent and treat the problems before they become clinically significant and translate findings to other communities to improve childhood wellness.

Interventions and explorations that focus on modifiable elements of the early life environment are being investigated, to assess and improve all aspects of physical and psychological wellbeing - both in childhood and in later life. These include nutrition, physical activity, time in nature, built environments, plastics and pollutants.

Communicating with and Understanding your Baby

The Mums Minds Matter study is comparing three stress-reduction training programs across a custom-designed app that is working to increase long-term mental health skill application among perinatal women.

Tooth decay remains one of the most common diseases in young children. It can cause pain and infection and, if it remains untreated, can affect eating, speech, and sleep in children. Researchers are exploring the importance of early intervention and education for child dental health outcomes.

Research

To reduce peanut allergy prevalence, infant feeding guidelines now recommend introducing peanuts in an age-appropriate form (such as peanut butter) as part of complementary feeding. However, due to a lack of randomized trial evidence, most infant feeding and food allergy prevention guidelines do not include tree nuts. The aims of this trial were to determine safety and feasibility of dosage consumption recommendations for infant cashew nut spread introduction.

Research

For parents and guardians, assisting children/adolescents with severe obesity to lose weight is often a key objective but a complex and difficult challenge. Our aim in this study was to explore parents' (and guardians') perspectives on the challenges they have faced in assisting their children/adolescents with severe obesity to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Research

The transition to motherhood, although joyous, can be highly stressful, and the availability of professional postpartum support for mothers is often limited. Peer volunteer support programs may offer a viable and cost-effective method to provide community-based support for new mothers. The aim of this study is to determine the feasibility of a peer volunteer support program-The Mummy Buddy Program-in which experienced volunteer mothers are paired with, and trained to offer social support to, first-time mothers.

Research

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between emotional health and wellbeing and support needs of perinatal women during the COVID-19 pandemic, and to understand their experiences and need for support. This is a potentially vulnerable group and a critical developmental phase for women and infants.