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Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Get advice and support with infant feeding from other users here.

Infant feeding

Does breastfeeding help prevent eczema?

15 replies

hayleyhew · 12/10/2006 21:48

I have 2 sons - one is 2yrs and 10 mths and other is 17 mths. The youngest has bad eczema. We plan to try for another baby and I am thinking about breastfeeding (the other 2 were bottle fed) hoping that it will help prevent eczema?

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IvortheEngine · 12/10/2006 22:00

I'm not an authority on the subject, but having had bad eczema myself and there being lots of skin problems on dh's side of the family, breastfeeding my ds and dd exclusively for 4 1/2 months was something I did to help lessen the risk of them having eczema if it does work. It would be interesting to know if bottle feeding, mixed feeding, early weaning, exclusive breast feeding etc does have a bearing on whether a child gets eczema or to what degree. I'll watch this thread with interest to see if anyone who knows comes on to post. Good luck with whatever you decide.

3andnomore · 13/10/2006 16:31

Hi there,
tough one, I am very pro breastfeeding and loved it, and it is said that it could help to prevent it, but this doesn't necessarily means that a child doesn't get it, as there are so many factors to it. So, definately go for Breastfeeding , as it won't be a bad choice....and see how things go, and if it would prevent eczema then all the better

bluejelly · 13/10/2006 16:34

My dd developed excema around 4 months. I carried on bfeeding and by a year it had gone. Can't say for certain that this was definitely related but I think there is some scientific evidence that it can help . Also there are many other benefits to breastfeeding not least decreasing the likelihood of breast cancer for you so I would definitely give it a whirl...

MegaLegs · 13/10/2006 16:35

I enjoyed breast feeding all four of my boys. Sadly DS1 suffered with terrible eczema until he was 2. He had an allergy to eggs which he has grown out of, a milk allergy which he also grew out of. He still has a mild nut allergy and asthma. So in our case exclusively breast feeding didn't help at all.

thebigbadmouse · 13/10/2006 17:52

Some women find that eczema only appears once they stop bfing, others find that it gets worse when it stops. There is definitely evidence to suggest that it helps prevent eczema but 'helps prevent' and 'prevents' are two different things. I bfed my oldest for 2.75yrs and she's got asthma, yet bfing is well known for protecting against asthma - it may well have been worse had I not bfed her. You certainly wouldn't do any harm by bfing your baby, and the benefits could be numerous - you'll never know though, as you never have a chance to do two different things with one baby!

hayleyhew · 13/10/2006 20:25

Thanks loads for the advice - will give it a go and let you know.

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dizzybint · 13/10/2006 20:33

a lot of babies get baby eczema at 4 months, it can last until they are 2 or 3 and is to do with spending 9 months in the amniotic fluid. this isn't to do with the other eczema which is found in families prone to asthma and hayfever etc.

Jalexandra · 13/10/2006 21:04

I bf my ds, but at about 2 months I introduced a top up feed of formula in the evenings. He developed excema after that. You can't bf forever so IMO if your child is going to get excema you can probably delay it by bfing but the inevitable will happen. (He is nearly 3 now and it has all but gone)

amijee · 13/10/2006 21:04

if there is a history of eczema in the family then it's definitely best to breast feed to reduce the chances of it happening again ( or reduce the severity)

hayleyhew · 13/10/2006 21:09

Sorry dont get the bit about eczema being caused by being in the amniotic fluid and it goes about 2-3 , well do get it BUT my son gets it cos I get everything! Dust allergy, hayfever, dogs, cats etc and I am praying that his is going to go when he is 2-3 - could this be right?? Please tell me it could!

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dizzybint · 13/10/2006 21:10

jalexander- that sounds like the baby eczema i was just describing. it isn't supposed to be avoidable by bf.

hayleyhew · 13/10/2006 21:18

Could it still go when he is 2-3? I dont get eczema. My other son got it but just for a couple of weeks.

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3andnomore · 13/10/2006 21:18

please pleasepllease once you do have that 3 child, please never hesitate to ask, no matter how silly the question...one must rememebr that we all grew up in a ff dominat soceity and now believe that ff Baby's show the "normal" behaviour, which easily makes us doubt our choice

Jalexandra · 13/10/2006 21:20

Dizzybint, actually the doctor did call it baby excema. I didn't realise it was different from normal excema. It was probably just a coincedence about the formula feed then. Thanks for that I can stop so feeling guilty now.

disemboweledbint · 14/10/2006 10:09

yes. if doctor says baby eczema then that's the one that starts around 4 months and goes by the 2nd summer after the baby was born. this isn't the eczema that is supposed to be preventable. my gp explained it as your baby has been in 'the bath' too long. it's particularly common in overdue babies. he even said 80% of babies get it, some in large areas, some in very small patches.

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