Introduction of complementary feeding in 5 European countries.
OBJECTIVE
Little is known about the practice of introducing complementary feeding across Europe. We aim at describing times of solid introduction in healthy infants in 5 European countries.


METHODS
Between October 2002 and June 2004, 1678 healthy term infants were either breast-fed (BF) for at least 4 months (n = 588) or study formula-fed (FF) (n = 1090) with different protein contents. Three-day-weighed food protocols were obtained at ages 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 12 completed months.


RESULTS
Solids were introduced earlier in FF infants (median 19 weeks, interquartile range 17-21) than BF infants (median 21 weeks, interquartile range 19-24). Some 37.2% of FF infants and 17.2% of BF infants received solid foods at 4 completed months, which is earlier than recommended in Europe. Solids had been introduced at 7 completed months in 99.3% of FF infants and 97.7% of BF infants, respectively. Belgium had the highest percentage of solids feeding in FF infants at 3 (15.8%) and 4 (55.6%) completed months, and in BF infants at 4 (43%) and 5 (84.8%) completed months. Multiple regression showed low maternal age, low education level, and maternal smoking to predictors an early introduction of solids at 3 and 4 completed months.


CONCLUSIONS
Complementary feeding is introduced earlier than recommended in a sizeable number of infants, particularly among FF infants. Country- and population-specific approaches to adequately inform parents should be explored.
Schiess
Sonia
S
Division of Metabolic Diseases and Nutritional Medicine, Dr von Hauner Children's Hospital, Ludwig-Maximilians-University, München, Germany.
Grote
Veit
V
Scaglioni
Silvia
S
Luque
Veronica
V
Martin
Francoise
F
Stolarczyk
Anna
A
Vecchi
Fiammetta
F
Koletzko
Berthold
B
D000367:Age Factors; D001903:Bottle Feeding; D001942:Breast Feeding; D015930:Diet Records; D005060:Europe; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula; D007227:Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D007231:Infant, Newborn