title: Feeding infants - an investment in the future.
abstract: Because nutrition during infancy not only determines growth but also impacts on future adult health, it is essential that healthy eating habits be promoted from a very young age. This study examines current feeding practices among Irish infants in the first year of life. Although 51% of Irish mothers commenced breast-feeding their infants at birth, the number of women who continued to breast-feed their infants at 3 months of age was among the lowest in Europe. Over two-thirds of infants (70%) received some formula by 4 weeks of age and the majority of infants changed formulas at least once or twice in the first year. The use of follow-up milk formulas was particularly prevalent in Ireland. Only 16% of infants were given unmodified cow's milk in their first year of life but none had been prescribed supplemental iron or vitamins. On average, Irish infants were weaned between 3 and 4 months of age but few families used home-prepared foods in the initial weaning period. Areas for future intervention include the encouragement of a longer duration of breast-feeding, appropriate vitamin and iron supplementation and the promotion of home-prepared foods.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, University College Dublin, The Children's Hospital.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Twomey
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kiberd
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: O'Regan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001942:Breast Feeding; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007494:Ireland; D013997:Time Factors; D014886:Weaning