Is there any difference between FF & BF babies in your opinion?

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I FF my first but now thinking about BF for my second. I wonder though from people's experiences on here, what difference in any did you see in a FF vs BF baby?

I'm not wanting to start a controversial thread, fed is best and I don't judge anybody for how they decide to feed their child. I just want opinions.

No idea I have one ff teenager but have no idea if anyone could tell or not

I did mixed feeding with my first as I didn't have enough breastmilk. Second was bf all the way.

Oldest child is way fussier with food and has very clear likes and dislikes and doesn't like to try new food at all. Youngest loves all kinds of food and likes trying out new tastes and textures. DH is convinced it's because the younger one got exposed to a myriad of different flavours through breastmilk which the older one never had 🤔

I ff dc1 and dc4 (dc4 had cmpa) they are 14 and 8 and both have mild asthma. I bf dc2 and dc3. Dc3 is fit and healthy. Dc2 caught Strep A bacterial pneumonia when she was 3 and died. The only difference I noticed is that bf is cheaper. Illness and health of babies being ff as opposed to bf is negligible.

We have 4 2 ebf, 1 mix of both and 1 ff. I haven't seen a big difference in their physical health or attachments/bonding although it's a very small sample size. I preferred bf just for ease to be honest. The faff of sterilising and cost of formula put me off and I hated winter night feeds when I was getting up and warming a bottle. I also got really worried about not having enough bottles and formula with me when I was out so packed the baby bag as though we were going on a week's holiday. In short, don't notice a difference in DC health but ff stressed me out 🤣

While there may be long term benefits I don’t think necessarily we do things for the long term but the here and now. I have a DS who only drinks water or milk and I’m not going to give him Coke and lemonade because he will start drinking it in the future if you see what I mean!

DD is combi fed. We are to be frank crap at breastfeeding so I express for her but never quite manage enough. She has 6-7 feeds a day and four are generally breast milk which is good enough for me. She’s six months next week so I’ll see how we go, it depends how well she takes to solids when I start weaning her.

She may be super healthy or not. She may be fussy or not. But breast milk was the best thing for her for now.

Like all things it has to be tempered with common sense and with what YOU want. The problem is what you want isn’t always as straightforward as we think!

I have 4DC and all were bf for at least six months, the longest 3 years.

They are all strong and healthy children but I put that down to a good diet, and lots of exercise.

However, I would always choose the more natural option over the processed option and I believe that breast milk is amazing. For example, the way it changes throughout the day to satisfy the baby's needs, or the way your body adjusts antibodies in the milk, in response to the saliva. That's incredible! Plus BM can treat ear and eye infections (I always kept small syringes in the freezer for this).

I was lucky though, I loved BF and only really struggled with DC3. At which point, I knew I could do it, and was very determined. If they had been my first child, I am not sure I would have persevered.

Ultimately though, a fed baby is the best baby so I would never judge anyone for their choices. We (and the babies) are fortunate to have access to both.

Statistically women who breastfeed are more likely to develop PND.

I think any benefits are small and they’re obviously not guaranteed.

I did BF both of my children but mainly because I’m vegan so didn’t want to use formula. They’re healthy but so are my friends children who were FF. As teens/adults, no one asks and no one can tell.

Here are the facts.
https://laleche.org.uk/breastfeeding-and-postnatal-depression/

My DC was FF and will eat and try anything and everything.

ex’s DC with his now partner was bf and has arfid.

Weird question. Opinions vs. Science? If people don't want to BF, then that's fine but surely it's just common sense that something your body produces specifically for your baby is going to be something that is manufactured

Asking people's "opinion" on whether breastfeeding or formula feeding is better is akin to asking a group of people whether they believe in the efficacy of vaccinating their children.

Some non vaccinated children will be fine. Some vaccinated children will get all the illnesses under the sun.

Likewise with feeding.

Ultimately, decide for yourself and with the advice from professionals if needed. Don't live in misery for years because you did one or the other.

Can you pick out the breastfed babies from the formula fed babies in a school class? Nope. Did they all grow up however they were fed to make it to that classroom. Looks like it.

And don't believe any bollocks spouted as fact from randoms. There are women (presumably) doing other women down all over Mumsnet for their choices, and over the years it's never been more heated than when feeding is concerned.

Both sides weaponise it, showing little more than, frankly, their own insecurity about the choices they've made.

Formula doesn't make a difference with their sleep. It's down to the baby

My sons breast fed and slept through the night since 12 weeks

Also me and my siblings were FF we were all poorly a lot growing up. My son is hardly poorly so far. Hopefully stays that way

Only probably because they couldn't successfully breastfeed and support is not the best

My sons breastfed and not fussy with his food. Literally eats everything. It's down to the baby not how they're fed

Does he go to nursery/school?

Breast is by far and above the best for baby, and ever so slightly better for mum so long as she has support. Depends on the wider context I suppose but if you could breastfeed why choose not to.

I breastfed all three of mine. Loved it but I don’t think there are any major differences between my three and the kids they go to school with. They are middle of the road who are good in one area (all different). BF was right for us (cheaper and easier) but I would have FF in a heartbeat if that felt like it worked better. Happy mum equals happy babies. I think people get too caught up in the future lives (health and academic) of their kids with the BF/FF debate and I think it just comes down to making your life easier as their mum - and ensuring theirs and your happiness. That’s just my opinion anyway 😊

Personally in my family, the babies that were FF are never ill ever. I don't think DS has ever had a day off school sick and he is year 9. They eat anything you give them, and sleep well. The children that were BF are all sick a lot, are fussy with food, don't sleep etc.
Obviously just a sample of 6 so not to be taken as hard evidence!

It's not a matter of 'opinions'.

Only breastfed my eldest for a few months at best, fed my youngest for about 6 months (he was a very big baby so I couldn't produce enough to satiate him in the end) and no difference health wise whatsoever.

BF both of mine. Happy, healthy etc

now they are teenagers they live off Gregg’s sausage rolls and Doritos which I feel is probably more impactful on their overall health

The one thing that is definitely different are the poos. Exclusively breastfed babies poo less frequently as more of the milk is used by their bodies. The poo smells less.

Nappies of breastfed babies are easier to deal with.

Bf are awful sleepers 😄 (or my two were just destined to be bad sleepers!) Eldest stopped at 13 months and been fairly decent sleeper since. Still going with second and tired...

Bf is "easy" though. No sterilising etc. Hard for first few weeks then easy.

Every baby is different. My three were formula fed and awful sleepers so bollocks to that one. Also I laugh when people say FF babies can be left with people but then you do need to have people willing to actually take your children from you so again not one Ive any experience of. My eldest was constantly sick my middle child very rarely and my third is only picking up stuff now at pre school. Academically and socially in a developed country with clean water and access to vaccines and healthcare you aren't going to see any glaring difference. DD is 11 and they are all really developing their own interests so it's the super sporty ones and the ones into more alternate music and the Taylor swift fans and the more arty ones etc etc and no one would care or know who was FF or BF