An investigation into feeding errors of 0-4-month-old infants.

This study was carried out on 206 infants seen consecutively at the Pediatric Clinic of our hospital. The feeding errors investigated were: The proportion of infants not exclusively breastfed, incorrect dilution of formula milk, incorrect dilution of cow's milk, rice flour feed prepared with water, and the use of rice water as a feed. The feeding methods of the infants were compared with their weight for height. Of those infants exclusively breastfed 83 percent were found to be above the median standard of weight-for-height. In those receiving supplementary feeds this ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05). In 20 percent of cases where the infant had received formula milk and in 14 percent of cases where the infant had received cow's milk, the milk was found to be overdiluted by more than 40 percent.