Common mistakes in infant feeding: survey from London borough

A survey of infant-feeding practices among 265 mothers of 12-week-old infants in a London borough showed that only 18 gave breast milk alone, 236 giving bottle feeds, and 197 solids. Serious mistakes in feed preparation were common, and only 51 mothers followed manufacturers' instructions exactly. Most mothers (239) had attended a well-baby clinic, but clinic staff gave conflicting advice on infant feeding. Health workers must pay greater attention to educating mothers on the details of infant feeding if the risks of hypernatraemia and obesity are to be reduced.