Plasma glucose levels were measured during the first day of life in 24 small-for-gestational-age (SGA) infants who began formula feedings within two hours of birth. In contrast to the high incidence of low blood sugar seen previously in fasted SGA infants, no infant had a plasma glucose below 30 mg/dl; after the first feeding, no values below 40 mg/dl occurred. Mean plasma glucose levels were lower in infants born to mothers with preeclampsia (57.2 +/- 2 vs 69.7 +/- 2.3 mg/dl, p less than .005). The results indicate that hypoglycemia (plasma glucose less than 40 mg/dl) can be easily avoided in SGA infants simply by providing adequate calories without delay after delivery.