Mothers who have both FF and BF children

[Jollymollyx]

I would love to know from mother’s who have done both, bf one child and ff another child on if they saw any differences in the child in the long run. Short term i’m aware of antibodies making the baby ill for less time etc (I bf my dd). But any long term differences for example when they are 3+ but academically, actively, physically etc

DS, now 10 yo, was BF for 3 days, mix-fed in ever decreasing amounts for another week or so then FF. DD, now 9 yo, was BF.

FF child had some mild eczema as a baby, and the odd tiny patch behind his ear as a child. It’s been well over a year since his last flare up, so may have outgrown it. DD has no eczema but incredibly dry skin. Hers did not manifest until she was older though.

DS has hay fever and has had to be treated with inhalers when he’s had a chest infection. DD has neither.

Both are very tall for their age and skinny, despite the fact that DS’s diet is vastly healthier than DD’s. DD is very sporty though.

DS has an overbite and will probably need a brace. DD has a much more developed lower jaw and probably will not need braces.

According to reports from school, DD averages just above average expectations across all subjects. DS is well above average and, to be frank, unusually clever.

I have two BF one FF.
The bf ones are as different as can be, one suffered eczema from 3 months, they other had a few ear infections. One is bigger and struggles with weight and one is skinny as a rail.
FF one healthy from birth, struggles with weight.
All are pretty good eaters (not too fussy)

Twins were FF. Both are very different (I swear their personalities were apparent from birth!) but they are both gifted and talented/ extremely clever. One is very sporty, the other is not very coordinated and happier in front of a computer. Both are very skinny. One is a very fussy eater, the other will eat anything.

Youngest was BF. Is shorter and much chubbier than the older two ever were. Seems bright but only two years old so it’s hard to tell. Has a VERY sweet tooth.

Oh and my youngest (BF) one has eczema. The older two don’t have anything like that.

BF the first, FF the second (I was quite seriously ill) - they are teens / young adults now and both the same:
slim, no allergies, no skin problems apart from puberty acne, healthy teeth, robust health wise - almost no sick days in school

I have 4 sons
BF 2
BF 2

My 2 formula fed are probably the more healthy tbh all 4 have tongue ties

My breast fed ds2 (14) has eczema and lots of stomach issues. Normal height/weight for age.
My bf ds4 is asthmatic, chronic constipation, eczema allergies, quite heavy etc poss asd.

Not convinced this has anything to do with how they were fed - exclusive for 6 months for both then 1 year and 15 months once weaned.

DS1 formula fed from week 4, DS2 still breastfed at 2 and a half.

So far DS2 is extremely clingy, and has a weaker attachment to DH than DS1 does.

Posted too soon - I meant DS2 is clingy with me. DS1 is more independent.

FF eldest DS - physically far stronger, sportier, eats anything. No chronic illnesses, chickenpox at three years, occasional cold. Academically able.

BF DS2- nowhere near as strong, physically. Asthmatic, and tires easily. Chickenpox at 4 months. Also pretty bright.

I don't actually think the feeding made any difference at all, to be honest. Pretty certain they were always going to turn out like this.

My bf 9yo is my sickie child. She has allergies, eczema, asthma, hayfever and is always ill the longest. My totally ff 11yo is the picture of health etc! I combined fed my 7mo and so far she too is very healthy...

Mine are 8 & 2, first exclusively FF, second exclusively BF to 6m. The little one has had way more ‘illness’ that the older one ever had.

Thank you ladies
I agree with a couple of the comments about their BF baby sleeping worse than their FF sibling and being more clingy.

My BF dd sleep has always been bad, she is chubbier but in a cute and healthy way, she was slow in meeting developmental milestones but intelligent. My FF dd is slimmer, faster in everything, and sleeps better.

Expecting no3 and putting pressure on myself to bf this one like the first but worrying about feeding every 2hours day and night with my other two to also handle but maybe I won’t feel as guilty if I end up FF now.
I definitely can see the short term benefits like BF baby’s colds and viruses just went away due to my antibodies whilst my FF dds lasted for a couple of weeks, BF is also a great comforter but otherwise long term it seems it’s best to do what’s best for your sanity.

Thank you

Gosh I thought it was just me where the FF child has better health and sleep.

Best not let any new mum see this or they’ll be put off BF for life.. I did actually love BFing Dd2 and wouldn’t have missed it for the world.

I wonder if they way to go is mixed feeding?

I FF the first 2 DC and BF the last one. The BF child is the least academic and the most ill. My two FF children ate very bright and top of the class whilst Dc3 is not meeting his targets and struggles a lot on school. He also has the worst behaviour of all 3.

I loved BF thought and would do it again.

Well the sleeping may be key to the better health.

I think it may well turn out bf isnt as great as they think.
So many variables
Birth order
Parental age
Education
Smoking
Allergies

Again I see so many comments about a second or third BF child always being ill. They get bugs from their older siblings!

Breast Fed baby 1 was snotty and always full of cold but easy going.
Ff baby 2 always had rosy cheeks and had good health but very clingy
As they became toddlers there was no difference. All through school from primary to end of secondary zero sick days ( honestly) they had a certificate and a presentation as it was pretty unusual.

I don't think it was down to feeding though, just the luck of the drawer

Dc4 was formula fed and I breastfed the others. Dc2 and dc3 have had loads of eye infections, dc4 has had loads of ear infections. Dc1 and dc5 are both hardly ever ill. Older 3 are all very bright, younger 2 both have learning difficulties. dc5 was breastfed the longest (2y 3m) and dc1 was breastfed the shortest (14m). Dc4 slept better than the others.

Mil had 3 children. Dp was ff, sister bf for a few weeks, brother bf for 1 year. Dp has eczema but is much more academic than siblings and also doesn’t struggle with weight unlike them. I think this is down to genetics though. Eczema runs in his family but breastfeeding can protect against this to some extent, I believe?

Bf baby was more anxious and had separation anxiety.

Ff children were far more easygoing.

In our family it was our eldest child, bf until nearly a year old, who was always getting ill and taking a long time to shake anything off- this was the child who became delirious with chickenpox, hallucinating with kidney infection after a UTI, recently (as a young adult) hospitalised with encephalitis-like symptoms after a cold. I did my best, honest.