title: Breastfeeding and introduction of complementary food in Danish infants.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of the present study was to describe early feeding patterns in Danish infants.
  
  
  METHODS
  A self-administered questionnaire was sent to 7113 mothers of newborns in the western part of Denmark approximately 6 months postpartum. A total of 5127 mothers (72%) returned the questionnaire and 4526 (88%) of the responding mothers provided valid answers to questions on infant nutrition.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Breastfeeding was initiated after birth by 97%. At the ages of 2, 4 and 6 months, 68%, 55% and 7% of the infants, respectively, were fully breastfed, i.e. they received mother's milk only. Full breastfeeding at 4 months was for infants significantly associated with higher birth weight, longer gestational age and singleton birth; for mothers it was associated with older ages, higher educational level, lower BMI and multiparity. During the first weeks, 14% of the infants were introduced to formula and this proportion increased to 32%, 43% and 74% at 2, 4 and 6 months, respectively. Only 20% of the infants never received formula during the first 6 months of life. Time for introduction of solid food was associated with breastfeeding status. At 4 months, 3% of the previously fully breastfed infants were introduced to solid food, 12% of the partially breastfed and 17% of the non-breastfed. At 6 months, 87% of the infants had been introduced to solid food.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The majority of Danish mothers introduced infants to solid food between 4 and six months, and did not exclusively breastfeed until 6 months, as recommended by WHO.
authors: Department of Public Health, Section for Nursing, Aarhus University, Denmark hk@ph.au.dk.
authors: Hanne
authors: H
authors: Kronborg
authors: Department of Public Health, Section for Nursing, Aarhus University, Denmark Department of Social Policy, London School of Economics and Political Science, UK.
authors: Else
authors: E
authors: Foverskov
authors: Department of Public Health, Section for Biostatistics, Aarhus University, Denmark.
authors: Michael
authors: M
authors: Væth
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001942:Breast Feeding / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003718:Denmark; D005247:Feeding Behavior; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007225:Infant Food; D041943:Infant Formula / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D009035:Mothers / Q000523:psychology* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
keywords: Infant feeding patterns; breastfeeding; breastfeeding duration; complementary food; descriptive analysis; formula; solid food; time for introduction