Objectives: To evaluate the effectiveness of a peer support intervention on infant feeding practices and, in particular consumption of non milk extrinsic sugars (NMES) at age 12 months. Methods: A randomised controlled trial was undertaken in an inner London setting. 312 mothers with babies aged under 3 months were allocated at random to intervention (157) or control group (155). A group of volunteers were trained to provide practical guidance and support to mothers in the intervention group over a 9-month period. The main outcomes assessed were NMES intakes, fruit/vegetable consumption and use of bottles. Data was collected at baseline when the infants were 3 months old, post intervention (12 months) and follow up (18 months). The 24-hour multiple pass recall method was used to collect the nutritional data. Mothers were also interviewed at each stage of the study to assess feeding practices and a food frequency questionnaire was used to determine infant's consumption of fruit/vegetables. Results: At the post intervention stage no differences were found in the NMES intakes between the arms of the study. Infants in the intervention group did consume more carrots, apples and pears (P<0.05) than the control group. Children in the intervention group were also more likely to be eating family foods (P<0.05) and to be having three solid meals per day (P<0.05). At the 6 months follow up again no differences were detected for the NMES intakes but the intervention group did consume more pears (P<0.05) than the controls. Children in the intervention group were also less likely to be still using a bottle (P<0.05). Conclusion: The intervention failed to reduce consumption of NMES but did achieve modest improvements in infant feeding practices. The study was funded by the UK Food Standards Agency.

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