| Abstract: | This study follows 128 subjects who were breastfed and 3084 who were formula-fed from birth through infancy. 36 of the breastfed and 907 of the formula-fed were followed from ages 3-12. The study population ranged from upper middle class to borderline low socioeconomic status in a suburb of New York City from 1949-1969. This study is representative of the usual approach for breastfed infants in the US today--a compromise between breastfeeding alone and the introduction of other solid foods as early as 2 weeks of age as has been done previously. Mothers today are encouraged to breastfeed for up to 6 months. Foods are added at about 3-4 months, despite recommendations by pediatric nutrition experts for later introduction. The value of the present study is that its sample conforms to this more naturalistic feeding regime. Under these conditions, when 2 comparable groups of subjects are followed, 1 with breastfeeding and the other with formula-feeding, both with a "middle-of-the-road" timing for introduction of solid foods, there are no differences in growth velocities during infancy or later childhood through age 12. |
