The introduction of breast milk substitutes and solid foods: evidence from the 1995 National Health Survey

Abstract

Objective: To report the introduction of breast milk substitutes and solid foods to Australian children between 1992 and 1995. Methodology: Analysis of data from the 1995 Australian National Health Survey Infant feeding questions were asked by personal interview in respect to 3,252 children aged under four years of age. Results: By the age of 26 weeks, the majority of children had been given infant formula (56.9%) and solid food (61.5%). More than one‐quarter (27.1%) of children received cow's milk regularly during the first 12 months Only 7% of children were given solids in the first 12 weeks of life. Soy milk was given to 14.2% of children aged less than four years. Conclusion: The majority of children in Australia are not being exclusively breastfed for six months as recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). The intake of cow's milk before 12 months of age and the timing of introduction of solids needs to be monitored. Future surveys should collect more detail about type of infant formula so that the proportion of infants receiving soy‐based formula and other formula can be assessed.

Modern and traditional diets for Noongar infants

“…These rates are similar to the national rates described by the 1995 National Health Survey, with 81.8% breast‐fed at discharge from hospital, and 62.6% fully or partially breast‐fed at 3 months, including 57.1% exclusively breast‐fed at this time 10 . Second, solid feeds were introduced at an appropriate age between 4 and 6 months of age for the majority of infants.…”

Infant feeding practices in home countries and Australia: Perth Chinese mothers survey

“…It is difficult for this population to distinguish whether they fed their babies with infant formula or cow's milk, so infant formula and cow's milk were grouped into one category. Data on breastfeeding rates were compared with the 1995 Australia's National Health Survey 9,10 …”

“…Two Australian studies suggest that maternal recall of breastfeeding is accurate. It has been found that duration of breastfeeding, but not the time of starting other milk feeds could be remembered accurately up to 10 years later 2,10 . Because recall of total duration of breastfeeding is more accurate than recall of when other foods and liquids were introduced, the estimates of total breastfeeding (i.e.…”

Developmental Milestones in Infants and Young Australasian Children With Achondroplasia

“…Infants in Australia are generally introduced to solid food between 4 and 7 months. [12][13][14] The timing of the introduction of pureed solids for children with achondroplasia was similar to that seen in the general populace. Independent feeding skills attainment occurred at an older age in this population than that reported in the normative population by the Denver II (Table 4).…”