Type of milk feeding in infants and young children up to 19 months of age in three socio-economic groups in Madrid.

The feeding practices of 344 children in Madrid between 3 and 19 months were investigated by controlled interview or their mothers of care-takers. Four different types of milk were given to the children: human milk, infant formula, follow-on formula and cow's milk. Three periods could be defined when infants were most likely to change from one milk type to another. The majority of babies changed from human milk to infant formula some time in the first three months of life. At between four and six months, about half the sample changed to a follow-on formula and, finally, around the baby's first year formula was substituted for cow's milk. Differences in feeding behaviour could be observed among socio-economic groups, but were not statistically significant. Feeding patterns closely followed international recommendations for infant feeding.