http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/everybody-calm-down-about-breastfeeding/?ex_cid=538fb

Breastfeeding and infant health

Among the most straightforward benefits claimed for breastfeeding are improvements in infant health. The randomized trial in Belarus evaluated a very large number of infant health outcomes. The results are decidedly mixed.

Infants in the treatment group — who, remember, were more likely to be breastfed — had fewer gastrointestinal infections (read: less diarrhea) and were less likely to experience eczema and other rashes. However, there were no significant differences in any of the other outcomes considered. These include: respiratory infections, ear infections, croup, wheezing and infant mortality.

In other words, the evidence suggests that breastfeeding may slightly decrease your infant’s chance of diarrhea and eczema but will not change the rate at which he gets colds or ear infections and will not prevent death.

Breastfeeding and child health and behavior

Many sources (for example, that poster in my midwife’s office) go further and claim that breastfeeding has health benefits for the child in the long term — lower obesity risk, better blood pressure and so on. And on top of this, there are the claimed benefits on behaviors — less hyperactivity, fewer behavior problems, more maternal attachment, etc.

Here, the evidence is not mixed. It rejects these claims across the board.

The PROBIT randomized trial is again the best source. The researchers analyzed the impacts of breastfeeding on allergies and asthma; on cavities; and on height, blood pressure, weight and various measures of obesity. They found no evidence of nursing’s impacts on any of these outcomes. They also found no evidence of impacts on child behavior issues, emotional problems, peer issues, hyperactivity or maternal-child connection.

One of the main benefits for me was convenience. No bottles or mixing stuff or scrupulous hygiene. Guess I was just lazy.

But… WebMD says:

What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby?

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat — everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.

Rule 303 said:

But… WebMD says:

What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby?

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat — everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.

when is the best age to start???

Dropbear said:

Rule 303 said:

But… WebMD says:

What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby?

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat — everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.

when is the best age to start???

Up to the individual……

Rule 303 said:

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies.

This site (and book) dispute this claim. (Mothers don’t need to feel guilty about being unable to breastfeed)

Divine Angel said:

Rule 303 said:

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies.

This site (and book) dispute this claim. (Mothers don’t need to feel guilty about being unable to breastfeed)

If same sex marriage goes through I’ll be expected to breastfeed! I don’t want some legislator suckling on my breast……………

The original “breast is best” advertising campaign was aimed at poor people in Africa, who had been making up baby formula with tainted water, resulting in excessive numbers of deaths, when they had perfectly adequate breast milk.

The advertising campaign spilled over into countries where the quality of the water supply is perfectly adequate. With the unfortunate result that mothers end up feeling guilty when they do not produce enough breast milk and have to switch to formula.

Now come the alarmists claiming high levels of phytoestrogens, brominated fire retardents and DDT in breast milk even for mothers living what they consider to be a chemical-free lifestyle.

Eye contact is important and if my cursory perusal of this thread is anything to go by then breast feeding is better because you get better eye contact, apparently.

Rule 303 said:

But… WebMD says:

What Are the Benefits of Breastfeeding for Your Baby?

Breast milk provides the ideal nutrition for infants. It has a nearly perfect mix of vitamins, protein, and fat — everything your baby needs to grow. And it’s all provided in a form more easily digested than infant formula. Breast milk contains antibodies that help your baby fight off viruses and bacteria. Breastfeeding lowers your baby’s risk of having asthma or allergies. Plus, babies who are breastfed exclusively for the first 6 months, without any formula, have fewer ear infections, respiratory illnesses, and bouts of diarrhea. They also have fewer hospitalizations and trips to the doctor.

Breastfeeding has been linked to higher IQ scores in later childhood in some studies. What’s more, the physical closeness, skin-to-skin touching, and eye contact all help your baby bond with you and feel secure. Breastfed infants are more likely to gain the right amount of weight as they grow rather than become overweight children. The AAP says breastfeeding also plays a role in the prevention of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). It’s been thought to lower the risk of diabetes, obesity, and certain cancers as well, but more research is needed.

The article in the OP deals with the sources of most of these claims.

There’s a little shop in the middle of Melbourne that appears to be a front for a cheap freight operation shipping to China. People take their gifts and souvenirs and such in there to be packaged and shipped.

It’s currently stacked floor-to-ceiling with tins of baby formula.

Make of that what ye will.

I fear it’s getting to the point where newborn’s formula will be prescription-only.