Skip to main content

Table 3 Main content of the mainstream and culturally adapted Healthy Beginnings program

From: The process of culturally adapting the Healthy Beginnings early obesity prevention program for Arabic and Chinese mothers in Australia

Timing and key content areas / Behaviour targets

Main content

Mainstream Healthy Beginnings program [36]

Culturally adapted Healthy Beginnings – Arabic speaking migrant mothers

Culturally adapted Healthy Beginnings – Chinese speaking migrant mothers

Antenatal (third trimester)

Sustaining breastfeeding / best-practice formula feeding

â–ª Breastfeeding guidelines

â–ª Health benefits of breastfeeding and strategies to overcome barriers associated with breastfeeding

â–ª Breastfeeding guidelines. Reinforce with support of community

â–ª Benefits of breastfeeding and colostrum; Breastmilk production in first weeks.

â–ª Family and social support

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters

â–ª Breastfeeding guidelines.

â–ª Benefits of breastfeeding and colostrum; Breastmilk production in first weeks; address concerns of not enough breastmilk for baby.

â–ª Family and social support

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters

0–2 months

Sustaining breastfeeding / best-practice formula

Timing of solid food introduction

Promote active play ‘Tummy time’

Response to child cues: hunger, satiety

â–ª Rapid response to women with problems initiating breastfeeding after childbirth, especially women who delivered by caesarean section

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding pattern

â–ª Management of feeding problems

â–ª Infant feeding cues

â–ª Baby feed, play, sleep cycle

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

â–ª Rapid response to women with problems initiating breastfeeding

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding pattern

â–ª Management of problems

▪ Reinforce no other fluids or foods needed until around 6 months (e.g. formula and water)

â–ª Infant feeding cues

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies; with increased information about what, why and how

â–ª Baby feed, play, sleep cycle; infant crying is normal.

â–ª Family and social support; sharing care with fathers and family, and emotional support

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters

â–ª Rapid response to women with problems initiating breastfeeding

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding pattern

▪ Management of problems – addressing any concerns of milk quality and/or quantity.

▪ Reinforce no other fluids or foods needed until around 6 months (e.g. formula and water)

â–ª Infant feeding cues

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies; with increased information about what, why and how.

â–ª Baby feed, play, sleep cycle; infant crying is normal.

â–ª Family and social support; sharing care with fathers and family and emotional support

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters

2–4 months

Sustaining breastfeeding / best-practice formula

Timing of solid food introduction

Promote active play ‘Tummy time’

Response to child cues: hunger, satiety

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding patterns

â–ª Management of problems

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids at around 6 months

â–ª Encourage mothers going back to work to continue breastfeeding

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding patterns

â–ª Management of problems; describe signs that baby is getting enough breastmilk

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids at around 6 months

â–ª Baby feed, play, sleep cycle; Sleep and settling techniques

â–ª Family and social support

▪ Parenting; looking after mother and father’s emotional health

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters; introduction to family child health nurse

â–ª Advice on establishment of breastfeeding patterns

â–ª Management of problems; describe signs that baby is getting enough breastmilk

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids at around 6 months, emphasise includes water/fluids too

â–ª Encourage mothers going back to work to continue breastfeeding and offer strategies.

â–ª Baby feed, play, sleep cycle; Sleep and settling techniques

â–ª Family and social support

▪ Parenting; looking after mother and father’s emotional health

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters; introduction to family child health nurse

4–6 months

Solid food introduction

Healthy food choices

Promote active play ‘Tummy time’ and no screen use

â–ª Reinforce breastfeeding pattern, Management of problems

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids from 6 months

â–ª Encourage mothers going back to work to continue breastfeeding

â–ª Reinforce breastfeeding pattern

â–ª Management of problems

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids from 6 months; visually illustrating age-appropriate food textures

â–ª Learning to eat and making a mess

â–ª Following hunger and fullness cues

â–ª Encourage mothers going back to work to continue breastfeeding and offer strategies

â–ª Family and social support

â–ª Parent-child interactions; importance of play for mental & emotional development

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters

â–ª Reinforce breastfeeding pattern, Management of problems

▪ ‘tummy time’ for babies

▪ Introduction of solids from 6 months; visually illustrating age-appropriate food textures

â–ª Learning to eat and making a mess

â–ª Following hunger and fullness cues

â–ª Encourage mothers going back to work to continue breastfeeding and offer strategies

â–ª Family and social support

â–ª Parent-child interactions; importance of play for mental & emotional development

â–ª Information about accessing free health services and interpreters