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Babies being fed 'readymeals and takeaways'

Children as young as nine months are eating a diet of takeaways and adult readymeals, which are high in salt and fat and lack the key nutrients needed for development, according to a new survey.

A survey of 1,000 parents conducted by the Infant and Toddler Forum found that 29 per cent of children under three consume a takeaway at least once a week, 19 per cent of toddlers are fed takeaways or adult readymeals for most meals, and 23 per cent eat crisps almost every day.

Results from the online poll of parents of children aged nine months to three years, have been published in the report Food and Nutrition for the Under-Threes by the Infant and Toddler Forum.

The report also highlights parents' misunderstandings about their child's nutritional needs, with 83 per cent of mothers claiming their child has a healthy balanced diet despite the findings, and more than a third of mothers believing their baby could have more salt than is recommended.

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