About a year before I had my first, I ran across an article in Science News magazine (that would be about 1987 sometime), that stated that alternating feedings of breast milk and formula may actually cause worse allergies than just formula feeding. There's something about changing from one to the other within a short period of time that the babies system cannot tolerate. IIRC, it puts a strain on their digestive tract to constantly have to adjust to digesting different kinds of substances. Even a few weeks of breastfeeding can be beneficial. I know some people can't manage it but even to do it a little before switching over helps.
I know of a kid who has the absolute worst food allergies I've ever known (anaphylactic shock) and his mother did this and is blaming herself now.
My son, who was breastfed a long time, had problems with ear infections for one year, also. We don't know what caused it.
I had the same problem with my m-i-l about breastfeeding. I was also glad they lived further away.
Both our kids were breastfed by my slender little wife who produced so much cream that the little tykes were little rolly polly bundles of joy.
I gained a whole new respect for women, after that, as a much younger man. Healthy? Those babies GLOWED!
And M-i-L who object to such a traditional regime simply are either liberal socialists who are disconnected from the primordial knowledge of true womenhood, or who do not have the common sense that is G-Ds gift to men and women of the human race.
Imean , I am ALL for the stablishment of a Republican Lactation Nation!
The whole breast feeding phenomenon is simply a natural miracle. As a man, I am almost jealous, but not quite. Such a wonderful thing!
I REALLY laugh at those who debate Breast feeding. Its the natural right of every little person who comes into the world as far as I am concerned.
Long Live Lactation, and may the Mothers Milk of mankind always flow!
What is it about mothers-in-law? I got the pressure too, though my mom also pressured me not to breastfeed. Unfortunately, I gave in to both of them (both lived near me), and ended up formula-feeding my son. Fortunately, he has no allergies, and he is quite smart. In fact, he's rarely been sick. My sister, however, breastfed both her kids and they both seem to miss school more than my son ever did. In our cases, I think other factors played a roll in our children's health. Breastfeeding is still best and, if given the chance to go back, I'd definitely breastfeed.
I've never heard that! What was so dumb about it was they were just coming out with the powdered formula so I had a ton of free coupons. I got a can, gave him one bottle out of it, and the rest was going to go to waste, so I started mixing it, daily, with his cereal.
Within a couple of weeks he had an ear infection, within a couple of more weeks, he wasn't sleeping and cried, I SWEAR, constantly!
After 2 months of this, I called my mom in Ohio (we were living in Maine), sobbed and begged her to send us a plane ticket because my husband was going out to sea. I was terrified I was going to hurt my son if I had to be alone with him and cooped up in the house.
My mom immediately arranged a ticket and reassurred me and helped me the whole way through. She knew immediately that he just wasn't acting normally, so we started looking into the formula and foods, etc.
All of that because I didn't want to waste an expensive, but free to me, product!
You might be interested in my story - above.