Feeding pattern of children under two years of age in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Mothers or other close relatives of children who were in hospital in Riyadh, were asked about their feeding practices. Sixty-four per cent of mothers of newborn babies had attended antenatal clinics, but only 10% had received any instructions on feeding. Of the hospitalized children only 27% were receiving breast milk alone by one month of age. However, of the 28% of mothers who had some education, 84% were breast feeding at three months of age. In Riyadh 36 brands of artificial milk feeds are available, and by three months of age, the average baby had been on six varieties of milk. Less than 14% of mothers intending to bottle feed could read the instructions, and of those who believed they knew how, only 18% made up the formula correctly. Educational opportunities need to be exploited and easy availability of artificial milk curbed.