The study population consisted of 22 infants hospitalized for low birth weight or prematurity at the Maternity and Children's Hospital in Samsun. Eleven infants were fed the low birth weight formula and the rest were fed the standard formula. Weight gain, increases in length and occipitofrontal circumference were higher in the low birth weight formula group than in the standard formula group. In cases which require it, a low birth weight formula should be given instead of the standard formula.