The timing of complementary feeding of infants in Switzerland : compliance with the Swiss and the WHO guidelines
Journal
Acta paediatrica : an international journal of paediatrics
Volume
95
Number
7
Pages / Article-Number
818-825
Keywords
complementary feeding, compliance, health promotion, infant feeding
Abstract
The importance of adequate complementary feeding of infants is increasingly acknowledged. Little is known of the actual complementary feeding practices in Switzerland.; To report the prevalence of adequate timing of complementary feeding, comparing the compliance to Swiss and World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, and to investigate factors influencing infant complementary feeding.; In 2003 a cross-sectional study was conducted of mother-and-infant pairs in Switzerland. The mothers, randomly chosen by local community mother-and-child health services, completed a 24-h dietary recall questionnaire and reported the infant's age at the first introduction of various foods. Descriptive analysis, group testing and regression analysis of data collected were conducted.; Introduction of solids mainly occurred between the 5th and 6th months. Five per cent of the mothers introduced complementary food before the age of 4 mo. The main influencing factors for infant feeding were maternal age, language regions, mother's BMI and smoking status, the presence of siblings, and an allergic predisposition of the infant.; The timing of the introduction of complementary foods meets with Swiss guidelines. WHO recommendations, however, are not met. This may be due to a misunderstanding of the Swiss Paediatric Association's age-range recommendations or insufficient promotion of the WHO recommendations.