Nguyen P, Binns CW, Van Ha AV, et al. - In the present prospective cohort study, researchers investigated the risk of hospitalization within 1 year of birth for infants who were given prelacteal or early formula feeds. As per their hypothesis, there would be higher rates of hospitalization and childhood illnesses among infants fed with prelacteal foods or infant formula soon after birth experience than their exclusively breastfed counterparts. They performed data analysis of 1,709 pregnant women. Outcomes support the occurrence of adverse infant health outcomes during their first year of life in correlation with both prelacteal feeds and early formula feeding before hospital discharge. In line with previous cross-sectional studies in Vietnam, they observed high prevalence of prelacteal feeding and early formula feeding before hospital discharge. As per a recent quasi-experimental study, prelacteal feeds was provided to over half the infants, and use of formula milk as the first feed was reported in 65.5% of the control group and 50% overall. these findings support promoting exclusive breastfeeding and educating women during their pregnancy about the adverse consequences of giving prelateal foods. They recommend providing extra support to mothers who have difficulties to initiate breastfeeding, and to overcome their dependence on infant formula as a substitute for breastmilk.