The amount of milk consumed by 1-3 months old breast- or bottle-fed infants

The consumption of breastmilk was studied by the weighing method in 75 infants aged 1, 2 and 3 months (+/- 1 week), 25 infants in each group. Similarly the same number of infants in the same age groups, bottle-red ad libitum, was studied and the consumption and consumption pattern were compared between the two groups. The mean and range of consumed amounts of both types of milk were similar to that found in other studies. The means for breastmilk were 656-773-776 g and for breastmilk substitutes 713-811-853 g in the 1, 2 and 3 months infants, respectively, but with wide variations. When expressed as kcal/kg it appeared to be practically no difference between the two feeding groups. The bottle-fed infants had fewer meals and had a more even consumption from meal to meal. It is concluded that infants largely regulate themselves the intake they require.