Recent advances in the nutrition of low birth weight infants are discussed, with special emphasis on concepts and methods to establish parameters for the control of growth and nutrition. Furthermore, the recent developments of methods in the research on newborn nutrition, the problems related to the use of breast milk, the timing of feeding and the problems of the intravenous alimentation are discussed in some detail. Secondly, the effects of breast feeding on infant health are summarised, with particular emphasis on the long term consequences (occurrence of diseases later in life) and on the effects on some surgical diseases of infancy. Recent acquisitions in the field of enteral and parenteral nutrition are also mentioned, and the problems related to composition of the nutritive solutions and indications in pediatric age are covered in some detail. Finally, the dietary management of infant with cow's milk protein allergy or intolerance is discussed, with special regard to composition and indications of hydrolysed protein formulas (casein based, whey based, soy and collagen based), soy based formulas and aminoacid based formulas.