Modifications to Infant Formula Instructions Improve the Accuracy of Formula Dispensing

Readability of infant formula preparation instructions is universally poor, which may result in inaccurate infant feeding. Given that inaccurate formula dispensing can lead to altered infant growth and increased adiposity, there is an increased need for easy to follow instructions for formula preparation. We hypothesize that altering infant formula instruction labels using feedback from iterative focus groups will improve the preparation accuracy of powdered infant formula in a randomized controlled trial. Participants were recruited from the community, 18 years of age or older, willing to disclose demographic information for focus group matching, and willing to participate freely in the first (n = 21) or second (n = 150) phase of the study. In the second phase, participants were randomized to use the standard manufacturer instructions or to use the modified instructions created in the first phase. Accuracy was defined as the percent error between manufacturer-intended powder formula quantity and the amount dispensed by the participant. Participants who were assigned to the modified instructions were able to dispense the powdered formula more accurately than participants who used the standard manufacturer instructions (−0.67 ± 0.76 vs. −4.66 ± 0.74% error; p < 0.0001). Accuracy in powdered formula dispensing was influenced by bottle size (p = 0.02) but not by body mass index (p = 0.17), education level (p = 0.75), income (p = 0.7), age (p = 0.89) or caregiver status (p = 0.18). Percent error of water measurement was not different between the groups (standard: −1.4 ± 0.6 vs. modified: 0.7 ± 0.6%; p = 0.38). Thus, caloric density was more accurate in the modified instructions group compared to the standard manufacturer instructions group (−0.3 ± 0.6 vs.−2.9 ± 0.9%; p = 0.03). Infant formula label modifications using focus group feedback increased infant formula preparation accuracy.

Knowledge about the relation between child growth and formula prepartion at home among mothers

Background: Human breast milk is considered to be the best source of infant nutrition. Extensive evidence has shown mother’s milk contains a variety of bioactive agents that modify the function of the gastrointestinal tract and the immune system, as well as in brain development. Objective of the study was to evaluate the level of knowledge about the child growth and formula preparation, to assess the knowledge of the relation between failure of preparation peoper formula and child growth complication.Methods: This will be a community base cross section study collected from an online survey tool. The survey was distributed electronically through the SurveyMonkey.com website to all mothers age between (18 to 40) from June 1st, 2016 to July 1st, 2016. The criteria of the survey, to be collected from Mothers age between (18 to 40). Results: In the study of knowledge about the child growth and formula preparation among mothers, we found only 20% of our targeted group learned the way of preparation from the pediatrician which indicates the requirements of more efforts from the side of health care physician. 50% of those who answered: “yes, we applied certain changes over the formula “the reason behind what they did was to help their children to gain more weight. In regard of over concentration of milk we asked about the way of preparation. The highest result was definitely wrong with answer: “I press over the scoop more than once, then adding it to the water 39.19%.Conclusions: On the other hand we found a great acknowledgment when we asked about child’s positioning during feeding. The majority said: “my child is always lying on his back, with my hand supporting his head” with percentage close to 82.22%.