Feeding Patterns in Breast-Fed and Formula-Fed Infants

• Published in: Annals of nutrition and metabolism Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 243 - 248
• Main Authors: Sievers, Erika, Oldigs, Hans-Dieter, Santer, René, Schaub, Jürgen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Basel, Switzerland S. Karger AG 2002; Karger
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Bottle Feeding; Breast Feeding; Circadian Rhythm; Diurnal distribution; Energy Intake - physiology; Feeding; Feeding Behavior - physiology; Female; Growth; Human physiology applied to population studies and life conditions. Human ecophysiology; Humans; Infant; Infant Food; Infant Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; Infant, Newborn; Infants; Male; Medical sciences; Milk; Nutritional survey. Food supply and nutritional requirement; Original Paper; Breast-feeding; Infant formula; Diurnal variations; Milk volume; Human; Night; Infant; Diurnal variation; Breast feeding; Volume; Comparative study; Quantitative analysis; Breast milk; Milk
• ISSN: 0250-6807; 1421-9697
• DOI: 10.1159/000066498

Aim: The intention of this study performed in healthy breast- and formula-fed infants was to characterize physiological feeding patterns as a basis for counseling parents to feed their infants on demand. Methods:Ingested milk volumes of 10 breast-fed and 14 formula-fed infants were measured during five 72-hour investigation periods during the 3rd, 6th, 9th, 13th, and 17th weeks of life. Results: A comparable diurnal distribution of feeds was observed in both groups during the first 9 weeks of life, with a day-night asymmetry of feeding first observed at the age of 6 weeks. Thereafter, formula-fed infants showed a further decrease in their nightly milk intake. Within the investigation period, the milk volume per feed rose from 100 (range 40–200) g to 140 (range 30–300) g in the breast-fed group and from 100 (range 20–200) g to 200 (range 20–450) g in formula-fed infants. From the 6th week of life onwards, formula-fed infants had significantly higher feeding volumes. Conclusions: Parents should be informed about the variability of infant demands per feed and of feeding at night observed in breast-fed infants. The results suggest that feeding patterns similar to those of breast-fed infants are difficult to accomplish in formula-fed infants.