SynthesisArchives of disease in childhood2009
Mothers' experiences of bottle-feeding: a systematic review of qualitative and quantitative studies.
Synthesis in Archives of disease in childhood, 2009. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 46 papers, 5 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
46 citing papers in PubMed, 5 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Mothers' Experiences of Formula Feeding Support in the UK: A Qualitative Systematic Review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2026Pooled it
- Guilt, shame, and postpartum infant feeding outcomes: A systematic review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2021Pooled it
- The impact of the UK Baby Friendly Initiative on maternal and infant health outcomes: A mixed-methods systematic review.Maternal & child nutrition · 2019Pooled it
- Qualitative Studies of Infant and Young Child Feeding in Lower-Income Countries: A Systematic Review and Synthesis of Dietary Patterns.Nutrients · 2017Pooled it
- Professionals' views of fetal monitoring during labour: a systematic review and thematic analysis.BMC pregnancy and childbirth · 2012Pooled it
- Peer support intervention (ABA-feed) to improve breastfeeding: UK based, multicentre, parallel group, randomised controlled trial.BMJ (Clinical research ed.) · 2026Trial
- Randomised controlled trial of a theory-based behavioural intervention to reduce formula milk intake.Archives of disease in childhood · 2018Trial
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- Trial
- Using the Medical Research Council framework for the development and evaluation of complex interventions in a theory-based infant feeding intervention to prevent childhood obesity: the baby milk intervention and trial.Journal of obesity · 2014Trial
- Navigating Without a Compass: A Qualitative Study on Parents' Infant Formula Handling.Food science & nutrition · 2026Article
- Understanding practices of lactation and infant feeding together with women with HIV: the UPLIFT observational study protocol.Frontiers in reproductive health · 2026Article
- Patient-Accessible Electronic Health Records and Information Practices in Mental Health Care Contexts: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Infant feeding for women with an eating disorder: An interpretative phenomenological analysis.Maternal & child nutrition · 2025Article
- Bottle-feeding practice and its associated factors among mothers of children aged 0 to 23 months in sub-Saharan Africa: a multi-level analysis of demographic and health surveys (2015-2022).BMC public health · 2024Article
- Multilevel modeling analysis of bottle feeding and its determinants among children 0-23 months in East Africa: evidence from recent DHS data (2015-2022).International breastfeeding journal · 2024Article
- Is there room for mothers' agency in the choice to breastfeed? A qualitative analysis of mothers' views on messages promoting breastfeeding in Quebec.European journal of midwifery · 2024Article
- Article
- Some Japanese mothers do not follow package instructions of infant formula: a web-based analytical cross-sectional study.BMC nutrition · 2022Article
- Impact of Electronic Health Records on Information Practices in Mental Health Contexts: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2022Article
Corrections and comments
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Authors and funding
3 authors.
Funding
Abstract
objectiveMost babies receive at least some formula milk. Variations in formula-feeding practices can have both short- and long-term health consequences. The literature on parents' experiences of bottle-feeding was systematically reviewed to understand how formula-feeding decisions are made.
methodsRelevant English-language papers, identified by searching 12 electronic databases, reference lists and related articles and by contacting first authors of included papers, were systematically searched for and appraised. The included studies were analysed and synthesised using a combination of narrative and thematic approaches. Consensus on the final inclusion, interpretation and synthesis of studies was reached across the research team.
resultsSix qualitative studies and 17 quantitative studies (involving 13 263 participants) were included. Despite wide differences in study design, context, focus and quality, several consistent themes emerged. Mothers who bottle-fed their babies experienced negative emotions such as guilt, anger, worry, uncertainty and a sense of failure. Mothers reported receiving little information on bottle-feeding and did not feel empowered to make decisions. Mistakes in preparation of bottle-feeds were common. No studies examined how mothers made decisions about the frequency or quantity of bottle-feeds.
conclusionsInadequate information and support for mothers who decide to bottle-feed may put the health of their babies at risk. While it is important to promote breastfeeding, it is also necessary to ensure that the needs of bottle-feeding mothers are met.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.