New TU Dublin Research Highlights Urgent Need for Infant & Young Child Feeding Emergency Plan
World Health Day 2025 marks the beginning of a year-long campaign under the theme Healthy Beginnings, Hopeful Futures, emphasising the importance of maternal and newborn health. A key part of this movement is the newly released report from Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin), which sheds light on the urgent need to strengthen policies and preparedness around infant and young child feeding in emergencies across Ireland.
On Friday, 28th of March, the Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies on the Island of Ireland was officially launched by Marie Sherlock TD. Led by TU Dublin’s Dr Aileen Kennedy and Dr Liz O’Sullivan in collaboration with Dr Clare Patton (University of Leeds/ Queen’s University Belfast), the study reveals critical gaps in Ireland’s preparedness for ensuring safe infant and young child feeding (IYCF) during crises.
Key Findings and Concerns
The study highlights major vulnerabilities, including inadequate breastfeeding support, disruptions in food supply chains, lack of access to safe water, and unreliable electricity, all of which heighten the risk of malnutrition, illness, and mortality among infants. Despite Ireland’s strong public health legacy, there is currently no integrated national or all-island strategy to safeguard IYCF during emergencies.
The report calls for:
- Stronger legislation to protect breastfeeding and ensure consistent and reliable access to affordable and safe infant formula.
- Public education for parents and families about emergency preparedness specific to infant and young child feeding.
- Investment in training healthcare professionals to support families in crises.
- A national, or all-island, IYCF in emergencies strategy embedded within Ireland’s emergency response framework.
Expert Insights
Dr Aileen Kennedy (TU Dublin) explains:
The EU’s new Preparedness Union Strategy recognises that crises are becoming more complex and unpredictable, and that we must be proactive rather than reactive. This is especially true for infants and young children, who are among the most vulnerable in any emergency due to their unique nutritional needs, limited nutrient reserves, and immature immune systems. Without the right support, they are at high risk of malnutrition and illness, which can have lasting consequences for their growth, development, and future potential.
While we cannot predict exactly when emergencies will occur, climate change, global instability, and other emerging threats mean disruptions are becoming more likely. Ireland must take a forward-thinking approach, ensuring that infant and young child feeding is embedded into emergency preparedness planning at all levels, in line with wider EU resilience efforts. Families should not be left without the support they need when a crisis strikes.
Dr Liz O’Sullivan (TU Dublin) added:
Our research, and recent experiences of parents during storm Éowyn, has highlighted that families are not prepared or supported to manage infant and young child feeding during crises. Too long, emergency response systems nationally and internationally have assumed that parents will simply look after small children in emergencies. However, that’s a simplistic viewpoint and parents may need considerable support to do so.
To ensure Ireland is more resilient in the face of future emergencies, we must: protect, promote, and support breastfeeding now, ensure reliable access to affordable commercial milk formula (without promotion of same), provide families with the information and skills they need to prepare for emergencies, and ensure we have trained professionals ready to provide assistance and support to families in the face of an emergency that impacts infant and young child feeding.
Aligning with Global and European Efforts
The WHO’s 2025 campaign aims to end preventable maternal and newborn deaths, advocating for policies that prioritize maternal well-being and infant survival. This research aligns with global efforts to push for policy reforms, ensuring that families receive the necessary support during emergencies. Furthermore, the European Commission's latest initiative, launched in March 2025, underscores the importance of strengthening crisis resilience across member states. The Commission highlights the need for robust contingency planning in public health, reinforcing the urgency of integrating IYCF strategies into emergency preparedness frameworks.
A Call to Action
TU Dublin and its research partners urge policymakers, healthcare professionals, and the public to recognise that emergency preparedness is not a luxury—it is a necessity. By embedding infant and young child feeding into emergency planning, Ireland can safeguard the health and future of its youngest citizens. For more information on this research and access to the full Infant and Young Child Feeding in Emergencies report, see the IYCF-E report.
This project was made possible through the support of the North-South Research Programme (NSRP), a collaborative initiative funded by the Government of Ireland through the Shared Island Fund and delivered by the Higher Education Authority (HEA).