If I feed my baby formula instead of breastmilk, will she be sickly and overweight later in life?

Question

Will she be not as smart as other children?

Answer 1

There is no difference between baby formula fed babies and breast milk fed babies.  Just the extra bonding that might be obtained by the physical closeness of breastfeeding.

Answer 2

There are no guarantees but babies fed formula are more like to die before their first birthday, have infantile illnesses such as HIB and rota virus, more likely to have allergies, asthma, diabetes, cancer (childhood and adult), obesity, etc, etc.

Breastfeeding also protects mom from certain cancers, osteoporosis, etc.  Does it guarantee you won't get breast cancer -no.  But its better than nothing.

Will your baby be less healthy than she otherwise would have been?  Probably.  Can I guarantee that  if your baby is breastfed she won't have diabetes, allergies, or asthma -no.  

Breastmilk is free, you will have it, you may as well use it.

http://www.breastfeedingtaskforla.org/AB...

Illness and Hospitalization

    *

      Formula feeding accounts for up to 26% of insulin dependent diabetes mellitus in children.

    *

      Otitis media (middle ear infection) is up to 3-4 times as prevalent in formula-fed infants.

    *

      US Formula fed infants have a 10 fold risk of being hospitalized for any bacterial infection.

Mortality

    * One sudden infant death for every 1000 live birth occurs as a result of failure to breastfeed in western industrialized nations.

      

    * For every 1000 babies born in the U.Ss each year, four die because they are not breastfed.

Development and Intelligence

    * Scores on the Bayley Mental Development Index were lower in formula-fed children at 1-2 years of age.  Scores were directly correlated with the duration of breastfeeding.

      

    * Formula fed preterm infants had lower IQ scores (8 points) at age 7-8 years than breastfed premies, even after adjustment for mother's education and social class.

Composition and contamination of infant formula

    * Due to an excessive phosphate load in formula, formula fed infants face a 30 fold risk of neonatal hypocalcemic tetany (convulsions, seizures, twitching) during the first 10 days of life.

      

    * Formula fed infants are at a high risk of exposure to life-threatening bacterial contamination.  Enterobacter sakazakii is a frequent contaminant in powdered formula and can cause sepsis and meningitis in newborns.

http://www.massbfc.org/pubhealth/

    * Women who have never breastfed have 1.2-2.8 times the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer.1 Breast cancer alone kills about 1,600 Massachusetts residents per year, striking about 4,400 people per year.2 About one-quarter of breast cancer deaths are in pre-menopausal women.3 (HIV, by comparison, killed 327 people in 2001).4

    * Two years of lifetime breastfeeding can dramatically lower the risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer. If a woman has two children, and breastfeeds each for a year (the recommended guideline), her risk of pre-menopausal breast cancer is lowered by 28-61%.1 Breastfeeding can lower the risk of any type of breast cancer by 4.3% for every 12 months of breastfeeding.5

    * Women who have never breastfed have 1.25 times the rate of ovarian cancer,1,6 higher rates of endometrial cancer,6,7 as well as osteoporosis and hip fractures.1,8,9 Ovarian cancer kills about 400 people per year in this state.2

    * Infants who were not breastfed have 7 times as much necrotizing enterocolitis (which has a 30% mortality rate);10 twice as many cases of otitis media, higher rates of hospitalization, higher rates of lower respiratory tract illness, gastrointestinal illness, meningitis; 15-18 Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)14,19-20; and abandonment by their mothers.21

    * Children who were not breastfed have higher rates of type 1 diabetes mellitus,11,14,22-24 leukemia and lymphoma,11,14,25 dental caries,26 dental malocclusion.27-28

    * Children and adults who were not breastfed as babies have higher rates of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis,11,14,29 and celiac disease.30

    * Massachusetts spends about $27 million/year to treat excessive cases of infant diarrhea, respiratory syncitial virus, and otitis media in formula fed infants.31

    * It is estimated that an average of $331-475 in extra health care costs are incurred per child in the first year of life to treat excessive cases of lower respiratory tract infection, gastrointestinal disease, and otitis media in formula fed infants, compared to infants breastfed for as little as three months.32

    * Nursing mothers miss less work because their children are healthier.33

    * Maternal pre-menopausal breast cancer rates1 and rates of childhood otitis media,17,18 leukemia,25 and type 1 diabetes mellitus 22,23 all go down more with increasing duration of breastfeeding.

    * Although the links between breastfeeding and asthma have been controversial, there remains considerable evidence that children who were not exclusively breastfed have 1.4-2.4 times the odds of having asthma.34-37 The prevalence of asthma is 10-30% among children and adolescents.39-43 Further, many children with asthma go on to have adult asthma as well.

Answer 3

no. not in any way is that proven at all.I think it is ridiculous that anyone would say that. My brother was breast fed, He is in all remedial classes, has to have tutors, and is overweight. I was formula fed I excelled in school, I was in advanced everything and I am not overweight. There will always be people that have sides to everything...just like spanking vs. not spanking, and being married before children vs. not. Everyone as their own opinion and while some people are open to everyone having their own opinion there are other people that find it necessary to push their opinions on everyone and say their way is the best way, or the only way. I formula fed my daughter, and I will formula feed my next child. and I think everyone has the right to chose which they want to do and neither way makes anyone any better or worse of a parent. I think it is stupid to say someone is a bad parent for not breast feeding their child. I am a good parent, and My 5 month old is very very advanced for her age. It is up to you what you do but either way your child will be wonderful.

Answer 4

No, not by any means, my brothers and I were all formula fed and have all excelled in Music, sports and are living healthily. My youngest brother is in 7th grade and is so advanced in music he plays with the senior band. My eldest brother was recently featured in a rock climbing magazine and is super healthy. So, no it doesn't mean your child will be overweight or less smart. Of course, it's best, but by no means is it going to define your child. With my next child I plan on breastfeeding, I didn't do very well with my first, but now I know I have to get help with doing it.  

Answer 5

There is no way to predict what will happen to your particular child, but here is what one of the world's leading health organization has to say about the benefits of breastfeeding...

http://www.who.int/child_adolescent_heal...

Over the past decades, evidence for the health advantages of breastfeeding and recommendations for practice have continued to increase. WHO can now say with full confidence that breastfeeding reduces child mortality and has health benefits that extend into adulthood.

Breastmilk promotes sensory and cognitive development, and protects the infant against infectious and chronic diseases. Exclusive breastfeeding reduces infant mortality due to common childhood illnesses such as diarrhoea or pneumonia, and helps for a quicker recovery during illness.

Answer 6

Yea, there was a study that said kids who drink breastmilk have a lesser chance of becoming overweight. Besides, formulas are gentically engineered, even worse.  

Answer 7

Not necessarily, but the chances are less if you breastfeed.

Here's some info on Breastfeeding, enjoy-

BREASTFEEDING BUILDS BRIGHTER BRAINS

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020200...

BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020300...

7 WAYS BREASTFED BABIES BECOME HEALTHY ADULTS

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020500...

HOW HUMAN MILK PROTECTS FROM ILLNES

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020600...

NUTRIENT BY NUTRIENT WHY BREAST IS BEST

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T020800...

COMPARISON OF HUMAN MILK AND FORMULA

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T021600...

BUILDING CLOSENESS BY BREASTFEEDING

http://www.askdrsears.com/html/2/T022500...

BREASTMILK FACTS

http://www.usbreastfeeding.org/Issue-Pap...

101 REASONS TO BREASTFEED YOUR CHILD.

http://www.promom.org/101/

RECENT STUDIES THAT SHOW THE BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING

http://www.keepkidshealthy.com/breastfee...

Answer 8

oh good lord.  the pressure these days!!!  My son was formula fed after one month and he is at the top of his class.  Parenting is a far more important indicator.  do what is best for both of you. :-)

Answer 9

Hello,

The answer to your question is no..if anyone tells you that this is the case they are lying to you. All health professional tell you that breast is best etc etc but formula is the next best thing.

I could not breast feed after having my babies and midwifes seem to try and force you to breastfeed its almost like they get a commission for each person they make breastfeed, my babies have grown up ( aged 7 and 11 now) and they are extremely healthy, not at all overweight and are intelligent well rounded individuals.

Please don't let anyone bully you into anything you don't want to do.

Good luck x

Answer 10

Most of us were fed formula.  The lowest rates of breastfeeding occurred during the 70's.  That said, there are countless studies about the benefits of breastfeeding.  Breastfed babies have higher IQ's, get sick less often and when they do get sick recover faster, have fewer allergies, less likely to get scoliosis, less likely to be obese, less likely to wet the bed when they are seven, less likely to get childhood cancer, have better hand eye coordination, less likely to need braces, less likely to need speech therapy, and the list goes on and on.  Also, if you nurse your baby you will be less likely to get breast cancer and some of the reproductive cancers, you will be less likely to get ostioperosis, and you will lose weight quicker after giving birth.  Not to mention that formula is really expensive and breast milk is free.  Plus you don't have to wash all those bottles.  I baby sat for a baby a couple of times who had formula and it took so much time to get the bottle heated and mixed and ready and the whole time he was crying.  If it was my daughter I just had to take out my breast and she was happy.  With so many benefits of breastfeeding I just don't know why anyone would choose not to do it.

Answer 11

definatly not  everybody says breastmilk is best but there is nothing wrong with formula

Answer 12

no

its a bit risky if they are very young

your breast milk has enzymes and basic things inside that gives your baby a stronger immune system.

the things formula have in it are artificial and you baby may be allergic.

if maybe you breast feed-ed for maybe 5-6 or more then used formula your baby's immune system would have been strong enough to fight anything which he/she may be allergic to that in the formula.

Answer 13

I read a recent study by McGill university that said babies who were breastfed are more likely to have a higher IQ of 2-3 points over those who are not breastfed.  But they weren't sure whether it was the breastmilk or the close contact that occurs during breastfeeding.

Either way, 2-3 points is not significant, what really matters is how the child is raised and treated.  Love your child and encourage their growth both emotionally and academically and you're child will be great no matter your "milk" choice early on.