Feeding patterns in breast-fed and formula-fed infants.
OBJECTIVE
The intention of this study performed in healthy breast- and formula-fed infants was to characterize physiological feeding patterns as a basis for counseling parents to feed their infants on demand.


METHODS
Ingested milk volumes of 10 breast-fed and 14 formula-fed infants were measured during five 72-hour investigation periods during the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 13th, and 17th weeks of life.


RESULTS
A comparable diurnal distribution of feeds was observed in both groups during the first 9 weeks of life, with a day-night asymmetry of feeding first observed at the age of 6 weeks. Thereafter, formula-fed infants showed a further decrease in their nightly milk intake. Within the investigation period, the milk volume per feed rose from 100 (range 40-200) g to 140 (range 30-300) g in the breast-fed group and from 100 (range 20-200) g to 200 (range 20-450) g in formula-fed infants. From the 6th week of life onwards, formula-fed infants had significantly higher feeding volumes.


CONCLUSIONS
Parents should be informed about the variability of infant demands per feed and of feeding at night observed in breast-fed infants. The results suggest that feeding patterns similar to those of breast-fed infants are difficult to accomplish in formula-fed infants.
Sievers
Erika
E
Department of Paediatrics, University of Kiel, Germany. Erika.Sievers@t-online.de
Oldigs
Hans-Dieter
HD
Santer
René
R
Schaub
Jürgen
J
D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D002940:Circadian Rhythm; D002149:Energy Intake / Q000502:physiology*; D005247:Feeding Behavior / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006128:Growth; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male