In the newest issue of PEDIATRICS, there is an article about the costs of
formula-feeding.
        Ball, Thomas & Wright, Anne.  "Health Care Costs of Formula-Feeding
in the First Year of Life".  PEDIATRICS.  Vol 103 No 4, April 1999, pg.
870-876.

From the Summary:  In the first year of life, after adjusting for
confounders, there were 2033 excess office visits, 212 excess days of
hospitalization, and 609 excess prescriptions for these three illnesses
(lower respiratory tract, otitis media, gastrointestinal illness) per 1000
never-breastfed infants compared with 1000 infants exclusively breastfed for
at least 3 months. These additional health care services cost the managed
care health system between $331 and $475 per never-breastfed infant during
the first year of life.

Linda L. Shaw MD FAAP

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