Breastfeeding reward

sir – Our recent trial of financial incentives for breastfeeding (Health, January 8) studied 92 areas with very low rates of breastfeeding.

We randomly selected 46 of these and offered incentives for breastfeeding to all mothers. The result was a significant increase in breastfeeding rates at six to eight weeks, and the largest increase ever seen in these areas in a properly controlled trial.

Although the Department of Health recommends that all babies are breastfed exclusively up to six months, and partially to at least two years, there is little government support.

In 2015, the infant formula industry spent £21 for every baby born in Britain on advertising. Perhaps areas where breastfeeding is not the norm should receive additional support. Dr Clare Relton

Senior Research Fellow (Public Health) School of Health and Related Research University of Sheffield