Reflections on infant feeding in the 1970s and 1980s.

In 1985 35% of US infants were breast-fed until at least age 4 mo whereas in 1971 the corresponding figure was only 10%. Breast-feeding is less common among lower income than among higher income groups. In 1985 10% of infants aged 6 mo were fed fresh fluid cow milk--down from 70% in 1971. Most formula-fed infants receive iron-fortified formulas (12 mg Fe/L). Beikost is now commonly fed to infants less than age 2 mo. The Infant Formula Act of 1980 resulted in promulgation of new quality control and labelling requirements for infant formulas. Over the past 15 y, salt and sugar concentrations of commercially prepared beikost items have been decreased, and certain modified food starches are no longer used. There is considerable doubt about the bioavailability of the electrolytic iron powder used to fortify most of the dry infant cereals.