Infant feeding patterns

The feeding patterns of 437 infants, aged less than 1 month to 12 months, were studied by interview and questionnaire in 11 Maternal Child Health Centres of the Melbourne City Council. Ninety-nine mothers had never breast fed, 146 breast fed for less than 5 months. The major additives to formula, drinks and to dummies were a wide range of sweetening agents including sucrose, honey, syrups, and vitamin C preparations. Some mothers tasted the drinks and food to adjust to their own taste. Older mothers consumed less sugar themselves and gave less to the child. Lone mothers used more additives than married ones. With the introduction of solid foods, salt or salt-containing preparations increased to form 60 per cent of the additives used. There was a trend to more sweetened additives in some ethnic groups. Most mothers were aware of the dental hazards of sugar.