Longitudinal data for weight and length from birth to the 20th month of age obtained from 318 healthy infants were analysed in relation to type of feeding during infancy (breast- or bottle-fed). Differences in the growth patterns of infants according to the type of feeding were confirmed, breast-fed infants tending to be lighter in weight between 6 and 20 months of age than bottle- or mixed-fed infants. However, our analyses of the infants' growth patterns suggest that the differences in mean weight between breast- and bottle-fed infants may be due at least in part to overfeeding of bottle-fed infants. Thus, it is advisable that the standard growth curve for breast-fed infants be based on observations of the growth of a large number of infants who are fed on breast milk only.
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