The SMILEY Study

We are looking for 105 babies and their parents to take part in a complementary feeding study that aims to explore how sheep and cow milk-based products introduced with baby’s first foods influences their gut bacteria and how this impacts sleep and digestive comfort.

The purpose of our study is to compare the impact of consuming an infant oat-sheep milk product with an infant oat-cow milk product on the infant gut bacteria, and how this may impact on digestive comfort and sleep.

The duration of the study is four weeks and is conducted remotely. This is a randomised study, which means it will involve the following:

• 35 babies will randomly be selected to receive infant oat-cow milk-based product
  
• 35 babies will randomly be selected to receive infant oat-sheep milk-based product
  
• 35 babies will randomly be allocated to the control group and won't be given any oat product for consumption
  

Your participation in the study involves the following:

• Completing brief questionnaires about your family and household, medical history and sleep patterns
  
• Collecting three stool (poo) samples from your baby (at the start, middle and end of study)
  

The study is being conducted remotely and there is no requirement for you to attend a clinic. Questionnaires will be completed online and stool samples will be collected from your home. Participants will receive a koha as an expression of thanks for dedicating time to this research.  

Your baby will be eligible for the study if they meet the following criteria:

• Has not started solids yet
  
• Is healthy
  
• Will have their first foods introduced around 6 months of age
  
• Was born >32 weeks gestation
  
• Has no developmental disability
  
• Has no significant health problems
  
• Has no feeding problems
  
• Is not currently taking antibiotics
• Is not currently taking a probiotic or prebiotic
  
• Immunised according to the New Zealand Immunisation Schedule 
• Is exclusively breastfed

Phillippa Miskelly

Email: thesmileystudy@auckland.ac.nz
Phone: 027 203 2638