Keeping abreast of the times: the Tauranga Infant Feeding Survey.

An infant feeding survey revealed that 77% of 187 mothers, whose babies were born over a three month period in the Tauranga maternity annexe, were breast feeding on discharge. Fifty-seven percent of the total breast fed for at least three months. The feeding pattern did not vary with ethnic group nor with previous breast feeding experience. Short-term breast feeders were younger and had fewer children than either the bottle feeders or long-term breast feeders. Bottle feeding tended to occur with extremes of maternal age. Breast feeders sought more advice during pregnancy and confinement. Overall, the most common reason for changing to bottle feeding was "insufficient lactation", although this reason rarely stood alone. Many mothers experienced difficulties with artifical feeds and made at least one milk change, nearly half receiving no advice. Solid food was most commonly introduced at three months.