A study of the eating habits of children aged 16 to 18 months

Ipsos UK was commissioned by the Office for Health Improvement and Disparities (OHID) in the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) to conduct an online survey in March and April 2023 of parents/caregivers of children aged 16 to 18 months. These parents/caregivers were participants of the Department for Education (DfE)’s Children of the 2020s longitudinal study, those eligible were invited to complete an extra survey on their child’s eating habits. The survey aimed to provide nationally representative data on the diet and nutrition of very young children and influencing factors.

Key findings 

Eating habits

The eating habits report highlights some areas of concern in the eating habits of children aged 16 to 18 months including:

• Sugary foods as a regular part of children’s diets. Foods such as biscuits, sweets, chocolate, or cakes were consumed regularly, with 61% of children consuming these at least 2 days a week.
• Salt intake. Despite the recommendation not to add salt to food for young children, nearly 1 in 3 parents/caregivers reported that they sometimes or often added salt to their child’s food.
• The use of drinks other than breast milk, water or milk. Although nearly all children aged 16 to 18 months often drank water and milk, parents/caregivers also reported that around half of children consumed squash and fruit juice. Some children were also continuing to drink infant formula or follow-on formula milks after 12 months of age, as well as growing-up or toddler milks. This is despite UK guidance stating that these are unnecessary for children aged over 12 months.

Food insecurity

The survey took place in spring 2023, following the rapid rise in inflation that took place in 2022 and consequent increase in the cost of living. Notably, a substantial minority of families reported having experienced food insecurity indicators. For example:

• Around a third reported they worried sometimes or often about whether their food would run out before they got money to buy more (33%) or reported they sometimes or often could not afford to eat balanced meals (30%).
• A quarter reported that sometimes or often the food they bought did not last and they did not have money to get more (25%).
• Nearly a fifth (19%) said that they or another adult in their household had cut the size of their meals or skipped meals in the past 12 months because there was not enough money for food.

The methodology, technical details and detailed findings are outlined in the research report, which you can access here.