Advice that ‘breast is best’ is out of touch and should change to ‘mum knows best’, say University of Queensland researchers who have found that just one third of babies are exclusively breastfed to six months.

Lead author Dr Katrina Moss (PhD) says feeding messages have been polarised between breastfeeding and formula, but in reality their research shows six different feeding practices exist.

The majority of women don’t exclusively breastfeed, and the support offered to them needs to reflect this, Dr Moss says.

In addition, women who choose to complement their breastfeeding with formula or solids have done so for good reasons, such as latching difficulties and mastitis, the study shows.