Table 5.

Trials of improved practices (TIPs) visits 1, 2 and 3 summarized: main feeding problems, recommended practices, motivations, benefits and challenges*

Main infant feeding problem (TIPs 1)	Recommended practices for mothers to try (TIPs 2)	Motivations discussed with mothers (TIPs 2)	Benefits of practice cited by mothers (TIPs 3)	Challenges to practice cited by mothers (TIPs 3)
Breastfeeding is not exclusive † ; mother introduces foods and non‐nutritive liquids such as water, tea and herbal drinks	Stop giving any other liquids or foods aside from breast milk Increase breastfeeding duration and frequency If you feel you cannot stop all liquids at once, reduce the number of liquid feeds and increase breastfeeding.	All mothers are able to produce enough milk for their babies; the more the baby sucks, the more milk you will produce. Babies who have only breast milk in the first 6 months grow much better physically and mentally and get sick less often. Babies need only breast milk to grow well. They do not need water because the breast milk calms their thirst. Your baby will cry less if you breastfeed her/him more often and breastfeed from both breasts until they are soft and empty.	‘The baby is much better, and she no longer has colic or swelling of the stomach’ ‘Her immunity is better’	‘My baby refuses to breastfeed and prefers to feed from the bottle because he has gotten used to it’ ‘My baby is constantly crying and she keeps waking up because she has gotten used to eating yogurt before sleeping’
Child consumes tea, made from black tea leaves; mothers often mix tea with milk	Stop giving tea	Tea is harmful and not suitable for your baby. Tea prevents the absorption of iron and causes anaemia. Iron is needed by babies to prevent anaemia and improve mental development and learning. Tea causes insomnia, making baby not sleep well and can affect your baby's health.	‘Not nourishing’ ‘Causes anemia’ ‘Appetite increases’ ‘Burns iron in food’ ‘Child can eat now’	‘Difficult to reduce [black] tea, I gave anise tea instead’
Child is not fed vegetables or fruits daily	Give your child the same vegetables you cook for the family, such as Jew's mallow, spinach, zucchini, okra, carrot and tomato. Vary the colours of vegetables you give; make sure baby is getting green, yellow or orange vegetables daily. Mix the mashed vegetables with the soup (at least 2 Tbsp) to prepare a nourishing semi‐solid meal for your baby.	Your child needs vegetables. These vegetables will improve her/his appetite and growth and prevent illness. The vegetables contain vitamins and minerals important to your baby and will help to prevent and protect from illness, diseases and anaemia. Vegetables contain fibre, which protects your child from being constipated.	‘Child eats more’ ‘Good for health of child’ ‘Health improved’ ‘Gives immunity to child’ ‘Has vitamins’	‘She eats just a little bit of these’ ‘She is now eating them a little. I hope she would eat more of these because she is weak’
Child eats junk foods, such as chips, store‐bought small sponge cakes, sodas, sweets and chocolates	Stop giving these types of foods or liquids. Children younger than 2 years of age should never have these foods. Instead, give a snack such as half a banana, a piece of cooked sweet potato, a piece pear.	These foods are not nutritious for the baby and do not help him grow. They contain preservatives, artificial colouring and food additives, which are harmful. They are full of salt or sugar, which later on may cause some diseases (hypertension, obesity, diabetes). They are very expensive. It is cheaper and better to buy an egg or give a piece of fruit	‘Happy he is eating better’ ‘Eating more’ ‘Don't like preservatives in these foods’ ‘Harmful/bad for health’	‘I have reduced it a little and will gradually stop it’
Child is not fed chicken/meat/fish daily	Give your child a portion of chicken or meat or fish once per day (at least two heaping tablespoons). Do not give just the broth that the chicken, meat or fish was cooked in. Pound or mince the chicken, meat or fish and mix it with rice or mashed vegetables to be suitable for your baby. When you prepare chicken, meat or fish, pound the baby's portion and then cook it well. When you cook a chicken, keep and prepare the liver for your baby. If you do not have a source of chicken, meat or fish daily: Give your child a meal made from beans and grains daily.	The broth you give your child does not help your baby grow and will not fill her/him up. The chicken, meat or fish will help your child be strong and healthy. She/he will be happier and playful. Your child needs fish and meat to build a healthy body, to protect from anaemia or malnutrition, to improve immunity and to protect from diseases.	‘Child looks forward to eating’ ‘These are very good for his growth and health’ ‘Accepting/eating foods’ ‘Meats are good’
Child is not fed often enough (<2 or 3 times per day)	Increase the number of meals given to the child, gradually. Feed your child (6–8 months) at least two times a day, or least three times per day (9–23 months).	Your child needs to eat more now to grow healthy, taller, play well and be active and learn in school. Your child will not become constipated.	‘Eating better/accepting food’ ‘Doesn't stay hungry’ ‘More she grows, more she eats’ ‘Food is good for the child’
Child is not fed enough food	Increase gradually the amount of food you give your child at each meal, until you feed him 8 Tbsp (6–11 months) or 16 Tbsp (12–23 months). Give seasamina ‡ mixture and enrich seasamina with other foods such as egg, fruit and vegetable.	Your child is small for his age. He/she needs more food to grow better and healthier. Enough food protects your baby from malnutrition. Your child will be happier and you can do your housework with less interruption.	‘He ate from it’ ‘It contains all the foods that are good for the child’ ‘So she can be nourished’	‘My daughter did not like seasamina – the taste and color’ ‘I did not like how it looked’ ‘He refused to eat it’

Tbsp, tablespoons; TIPs 1‐2‐3, trials for improved practices first, second and third visit, respectively. *This table presents a summary of TIPs visits 1, 2 and 3: most frequently reported feeding problems captured in the TIPs 1. Recommended practices developed from TIPs 1 and offered to mothers during TIPs 2. Motivational messages developed from TIPs 1 and used to counsel mothers to try recommended practices during TIPs 2. Observed benefits/motivations to continue practices tried cited during TIPs 3. Challenges to practices cited during TIPs 3. ^†Problem specific to infants 0–5.99 months; ^‡The recommendation to give seasamina was given to all mothers of children age 6–23.99 months.