# Driving Research and Advocacy for Healthy Infant and Toddler Diets: The Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance

## TL;DR

This paper introduces a new alliance in Australia and New Zealand focused on improving infant and toddler diets through research and advocacy.

## Contribution

The paper presents the formation and research priorities of the Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance.

## Key findings

- The Alliance prioritized three themes: commercial foods and milks, health systems, and parent support.
- Cross-cutting impact areas include building and translating evidence and advocacy.
- The Alliance aims to improve nutrition and well-being outcomes for infants and toddlers.

## Abstract

Early childhood (0–36 months) is a critical time for the development of healthy dietary behaviours. This paper describes the establishment of the Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance in Australia and New Zealand, along with the development of the Alliance's priorities to guide research and advocacy activities for improved nutrition, health and well‐being outcomes in early childhood. The multi‐disciplinary Alliance includes a membership of academics, practitioners and advocates working in the fields of infant and toddler food and nutrition across Australia and New Zealand. The Alliance undertook a priority setting process across a series of member meetings with identified priorities subsequently refined by a core membership working group. Three priority themes, along with three cross‐cutting impact areas were identified. The priority themes include commercial foods and milks for infants and toddlers; health and care settings and systems; and support for parents and carers. The cross‐cutting impact areas include building evidence, translating evidence, and advocacy. This provides a framework to guide research, practice and advocacy, identify research gaps, and advance action to improve nutrition, health and well‐being outcomes for infants and toddlers.

The Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance brings together researchers and health professionals across Australia and New Zealand with an interest in infant and toddler food regulation, child development, and interventions to better support optimal dietary and feeding outcomes for infants and toddlers.

The Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance was formed in Australia and New Zealand in 2022 to drive research and action to improve nutrition, health, and well‐being outcomes in early childhood.The Alliance membership includes academics, practitioners, and advocates working together to build and translate evidence and lead advocacy for improved infant and toddler nutrition.The Alliance has prioritised three themes: commercial foods and milks for infants and toddlers, health and care settings and systems, and support for parents and carers.

The Infant and Toddler Foods Research Alliance was formed in Australia and New Zealand in 2022 to drive research and action to improve nutrition, health, and well‐being outcomes in early childhood.

The Alliance membership includes academics, practitioners, and advocates working together to build and translate evidence and lead advocacy for improved infant and toddler nutrition.

The Alliance has prioritised three themes: commercial foods and milks for infants and toddlers, health and care settings and systems, and support for parents and carers.