Some or all of them may be explained to mothers using simple language. If breastfeeding is not possible, cow's milk or milk formula should be given from a cup. This is possible even with very young infants. Feeding bottles and teats should never be used because they are very difficult to clean and easily carry the organisms that cause diarrhoea. Careful instructions should be given on the correct preparation of milk formula using water that has been boiled briefly before use.
Milk intolerance is very rare in infants who take only breastmilk.
N utritionally balanced G astroenteritis greatly reduced From a publicity leaflet by the TIBS support group, Trinidad. Weaning a critical time for diarrhoea transmission Infants are at greatest risk of diarrhoea when foods other than breastmilk are first given. High levels of contamination are often found in animal milks and traditional weaning foods, especially cereal gruels. Escherichia coli , which causes at least 25 per cent of all diarrhoea in developing countries, is commonly found in weaning food. Feeding bottles and rubber teats, which are particularly difficult to clean, are often breeding grounds for germs.