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 breast-fed, 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 per cent were found to be above 100 per cent as regards weight-for-height. In those receiving supplementary feeds this ratio was significantly lower (P < 0.05). In 20 per cent of cases where the infant had received formula milk and in 14 per cent of cases where the infant had received cow's milk, the milk was found to be overdiluted by more than 40 per cent.