To suggest that ff babies are generally more content than breastfed babies?

[mrsb26]

...because they are fuller for longer?

Following on from an article I read recently regarding a study that suggested that of its recipients, the ff babies were generally deemed to be more calm, easy to settle to sleep etc than breastfed babies.

I know this is bound to be a taboo subject, but I must say, as a breastfeeding mother myself to a 4 month old dd, I have considered whether she'd be more satisfied on formula. She's not the easiest of babies and, to me, seems fussier and more demanding than her formula fed peers.

For example, she is really hard to settle to sleep for naps. She will sometimes feed to sleep, but not always (I know this is a debate on itself). I have never been to the shops or out for a walk for half an hour without her fussing (even if it's just for a little bit). She will sit on my knee or go to someone else for five minutes tops before fussing and starting to cry.

I'm not doubting the benefits of the quality of breastmilk, obviously. I guess I just feel like I'm filling up a tank that's emptying as quick as it's filling^^ and that she's never fully satisfied. I know breastmilk is digested quicker, but still.

She has no issues re: reflux, tongue tie or anything either.

Of course there are behavioural differences amongst all babies, but as a general rule, what is your opinion? Interested to hear from anyone who has perhaps breastfed one baby and formula fed another.

Hully there are studies backing up what I'm saying I haven't pulled it out my arse

But if it makes you feel better attribute every exam your child passes to breastfeeding

One teeny tiny point, which will be pounced on as me making ff people feel bad, but is just an inconvenient fact: the long chain fatty acids found in breast milk are essential for brain development. In formula they reproduce the components, but shaking the bottle breaks down the chain and stops its efficaciousness.

This is one possible reason why bf babies tend on the whole to have higher iqs.

Please understand I am not trying to upset anyone, I am just a bit fanatical about facts and truth.

I can't argue how big the gap is, I don't know. The NHS and the WHO list advantages and risks but they are associated with other things. Breast cancer, diabetes, obesity, illness. There are all kinds of risk factors that contribute to those things.

Tali it is implied that mothers who ff are cold and detached from their babies.

Bf and ff mothers come in all shapes and sizes and practice all types of parenting styles.

Freezing the nct and NHS are not unbiased, they're very breastfeeding biased.

Senpai posted the best link earlier. I posted another decent one. Believe what you want but the benefits of breastfeeding past antibodies are questionable

For example:

First feed helps to stabilise baby's blood sugar
Week 6 less risk of chest infections up to age of 7 years

Those benefits cannot be disputed. I'm not saying you are wrong to ff of course I'm not, but please do not make silly assumptions that ff and bf are much the same!

Hully the IQ thing has been disproved many times.

No. We don't

People who come out with some of the ridiculous comments that are on this thread really need to get a grip.

We are all doing what we feel is best for us and our children. There's mothers on here who couldn't breastfeed. You are no better than them. There's mothers in here who chose not to breastfeed. You are no better than them. There's mothers on here who breastfed easily. You are no better than them.

I think it's far more important to teach children not to be judgemental arsewipes and to be accepting of other peoples choices than to feed them from my boob. But that's just me. I want to raise decent members of society. How I feed them doesn't affect their behaviour.

The nct and nhs are not biased towards breastfeeding. They give out advice based on the best most reputable available research. It's not some sort of conspiracy theory.

Freezing the NCT is very much earth mother and the NHS is all about saving money.

Excuse me? Sweeping judgemental statement much? Nct = earth mother???

Hully they're not better. They made one better choice, they got one part right. They might fuck up massively in loads of other ways.

Breastmilk is better I truly believe that. But equally all sorts of nonsense is written online over egging the benefits.

Also i am interested to hear how reccomending bf saves the NHS money???

Freezing less ready done formula in hospitals. Loads of hospitals have stopped giving them out to save money.

There's also a weird fetishisation in the UK with natural birth and all things natural. Which is fine just don't push it on everyone elsex

well apparently it is fine for you as a ff mum to make several judgemental posts against me. You will obviously choose what you want to believe tali and that's fine, but please don't assume I'm an 'Earth mother' or that I have a 'fetish' with natural things. If I'd called you names I would be ashamed of myself, you have made yourself seem very immature. Please continue to insult other posters but this earth mother is going to bow out of this thread now.

I do worry most about the brain development thing. Ds1 is healthy as can be and doing fine at school. It's always in the back of my mind though would he be doing better if I'd bf.

I was bf and it doesn't seem to have helped me!

There must be other contributing factors to all these things such as your parents.

Um, Tali, there is wanting to believe something and then there is being unhinged. You are beginning to sound the latter. The WHO and the NCT are rigorously and scrupulously research based.

NHS news link regarding IQ

"Hully they're not better. They made one better choice, they got one part right. They might fuck up massively in loads of other ways."

So true Pygama. I beat myself up regularly about my parenting and my choices. It's just that earlier a few posters were fairly dismissive that bmilk isn't better than formula. Formula is great where bf wasn't an option or didn't work out for whatever reason. People find it hard to not comment on this, i guess or challenge it.

Argh not working! Will try again.
www.nhs.uk/news/2015/09September/Pages/No-significant-link-between-breastfeeding-and-higher-IQ.aspx

In my opinion - no (I know how touchy this subject is...) bf babies take what they want so when they are hungry they are actually hungry whereas ff are fed to a schedule whether they are hungry or not. Bf babies have their food on tap whereas ff (might, though not always) have to wait. I'm far to lazy to ff so I ebf my DD for 19 months and I'm currently ebf my 8 week old ds. Both beautifully content. DD slept through from 18 days ds took a wee while longer 36 days (both with dream feeds). Wouldn't have it any other way x

Also... And this is quite important to this question you cant actually tell who has been ff or bf at the end of the day... Its just my opinion of the word contented

Double you're talking rubbish. Neither of my ff babies fed to a schedule they fed when they showed signs of hunger, rooting. They fed until they turned away they weren't forced to eat more.

I must admit I'm not too worried at all about brain development. I was exclusively FF and have a masters degree, DH was FF is similar intelligence to me (similar AB ratios at GCSE and A levels) my best friend at school who got 4As at A level was also FF. My oldest dd is one of the top ones in her class. The younger one is rather too sharp for her own good....

Maybe we'd all have been gifted if bf I somehow doubt it