[netmilsmom]

>>Breast fed babies have significantly fewer ear infections than formula feed babies.<<

Then why were there ear infections at all before bottles?
I find the "breastfeeding" cure all to goes a little far.

My sisters had five children, all bottle fed.
There are now eight grandchildren from those kids, all bottle fed.
None of them had chronic ear infections and neither did my two bottle fed babies.

Breastfeeding is great but not the cure to the world.

[Zechariah_8_13]

Breastfeeding is great but not the cure to the world. Well, I'd say the conveyed immunity IS a "cure to the world," especially the third world where the infants live in very unsanitary conditions.

Additionally, that you know someone who bottlefed all her children and they didn't have ear infections is just anecdotal. It's also a bit like saying, "We never had carseats and we were fine" -- just because you were fine doesn't mean you weren't lucky. Breastfeeding won't prevent every child from getting sick, but like a carseat, it adds an extra layer of protection.

Breastfeeding is what God intended, and it's far and away the best thing for babies. Formula can't even come close to replicating human milk.

[Zechariah_8_13]

Then why were there ear infections at all before bottles?

The poster did not say that breastfeeding eradicates all ear infections. The poster said, "Breast fed babies have significantly fewer ear infections than formula feed babies.

[ChildOfThe60s]

Then why were there ear infections at all before bottles? I find the "breastfeeding" cure all to goes a little far.

Hmm, I said "significantly fewer" not cure all.

My sisters had five children, all bottle fed.
There are now eight grandchildren from those kids, all bottle fed.
None of them had chronic ear infections and neither did my two bottle fed babies.

Yes, so what? That is anecdotal. It in no way conflicts with my statement. There are thousands of bottle fed babies that don't suffer from chronic ear infections. I said that breast fed babies as a group suffer from significantly [statistically] fewer ear infections. That's a verifyable statement.

These types of discussions seem to evolve into recitations of anecdotal evidence and refutations. You know, my grandpa smoked 2 packs a day for 50 years and died running the Boston Marathon at 92.

Again, so what? There are so many variables when talking about health and illness. In many cases the best science can do is determine which variables have statistically more significance than others. In this case, nursing improves the odds for the child. That's all. No guarantees.

Breastfeeding is great but not the cure to the world.

Yeah, that is pretty much what I was saying. No hidden meaning there.