[A survey of infant feeding during the first six months of life (author's transl)].

In 1978--1979 a feeding survey was conducted among infants during the first six months of life. 213 question sheets containing numerous items about breast- and artificial feeding and episodes of significant illness were replied to by 213 german-speaking mothers. The following data were especially remarkable: 68% of the newborn babies were initially breast fed, this percentage declining to 19% after the first month of life. Only 10% of all bottle fed infants received humanized milk formula exclusively. Most of the mothers introduced solid foods too early. The comparison of morbidity between breast, mixed-fed and exclusive artificially fed infants came down significantly in favour of the breast fed group. The different findings are discussed and a programme to promote breast-feeding while still in hospital elaborated upon.