Infant nutritional recommendations from pediatricians. Epidemiologic survey of feeding recommendations for the first year of life in Piedmont.

AIM

Timing the introduction of solids and milk formulas in infants' diet varies throughout the world. The aim of the present study was to assess the modalities of weaning, suggested by pediatricians in Piedmont, Italy, and to compare them to current scientific guidelines.

METHODS

The survey was conducted using data recording forms sent to the pediatricians of our area (both practitioners and hospital physicians) from September 2000 to January 2001. Pediatricians were asked to fill in a questionnaire about the time of solid food introduction in the 1st year of life. The study was supported by 168 pediatricians, of these 105 practitioners, 53 hospital doctors and 9 university physicians.

RESULTS

The mean age of weaning was 4.5 months. The 1st beikost was vegetable soup with rice flour, meat and parmesan in 65.4%; in 73.8% it was given with a spoon. In 94.6% no salt was added, in 84.5% no sweetener was added. Homogenized fruit was introduced at a mean age of 4.4 months: apple was the 1st fruit to be introduced (4.5 months), followed by pear (4.8 months) and banana (5.6). Lyophilised meat was introduced at 5 months, homogenized meat was introduced at 6.2 months, and minced meat was introduced at 8.2 months. Vegetables (potatoes, carrots, courgettes) were introduced between 5.2 to 5.4 months of age. Parmesan was introduced at 5.3 months; gluten at 6.2 months. Egg yolk was the 1st to be introduced (mean age = 8.9 months), while albumen was introduced at a mean age of 11.6 months. Fish was given at a mean age of 8.2 months. Cow's milk was introduced at 9 months.

CONCLUSION

Paediatricians give indications about the introduction of solid foods according to scientific guidelines, with the exception of cow's milk which is introduced too early.