Developmental work for this review (development of the conceptual framework for identification and classification of health promotion interventions and the search strategy) was conducted for the purposes of 'A systematic review to evaluate the effectiveness of interventions to promote the initiation of breastfeeding', funded by and produced for the NHS Research and Development Health Technology Assessment Programme, UK (Fairbank 2000). Co‐authors of this review, not involved in the adaptation and update of this review for the Cochrane Collaboration, were: S O'Meara, Dr AJ Sowden, D Lister‐Sharp (NHS Centre for Reviews and Dissemination, University of York, UK) and Dr M Woolridge (Mother and Infant Research Unit, Faculty of Medicine, University of Leeds, UK). An international Advisory Panel of breastfeeding and health promotion experts also provided guidance on the classification of studies and interpretation of findings for the HTA 2000 review. Members of the Advisory Panel were: Rosamund Bryar, Petra Clarke, Leslie Davidson, Elisabeth Helsing, Stuart Logan, Miranda Mugford, Patricia Muirhead, Felicity Savage, Jim Sikorski and Mary Smale.

Searches for studies relevant to this substantive update of this Cochrane review were conducted by Lynn Hampson (Trials Search Co‐ordinator, Cochrane Pregnancy and Childbirth Group, Liverpool Women's Hospital Foundation Trust). Professor Martin Bland, University of York, provided statistical advice for this update.