Well known are the protective properties of the human milk. It contains living morphotic elements, sIgA antibodies, lactoferrin and lysozyme, while cow milk contains protective elements inadequate for a new-born or an infant. Many authors stress the increased frequency of upper airways and gastrointestinal tract infections in bottle- fed children. The aim of the study is to assess the influence of the method of feeding on the morbidity in infancy. On the basis of performed tests we demonstrated that breast-fed children had statistically significant lower morbidity than bottle- and breast-fed and entirely bottle-fed children. We also demonstrated that absolute morbidity was also significantly lower in the group of breast-fed children. We conclude that there is significant protective influence of breast feeding on morbidity in infants and it applies to the whole period of infancy.

Keywords: feeding, new-borns, infants, Morbidity