Breastfeed or formula

[Leelee33x]

Hello

To mums who exclusively formula fed, did your babies develop and hit their milestones just as well as breastfed babies (if you had any to compare to?)

I struggled with breastfeeding and didn't get much support so ended up switching to formula exclusively when my baby was a few months old (I had hoped to combi feed). I'd agree with most of what others have said - it certainly hasn't affected milestones so far, and if anything I'd say my child seems to have a very strong immune system compared to some of her bf pals (she's a toddler still!). But I'd echo the practical stuff - it's stressful having to pack formula wherever you go, worry about sterilising and cleaning bottles etc. I also found it slightly isolating in that I didn't have that bond with other mums around me who mostly breastfed. Another one was that I found the hot weather stressful in the summer with a young baby, and generally the advice was to "breastfeed, breastfeed, breastfeed" but you can't do that with formula, so I ended up trying to feed my child small portions of cooled boiled water which was neither practical nor easy. Having said all that...switching to formula probably saved my mental health at a very vulnerable time, and you need to do what is right for you. You will make peace with whatever choice you go for!

Whatever you choose just know that after they are 4-5 no one gives shit if you bottle fed or bf. No dr ever asks and no differences noted.

I really wish people spent more time encouraging health eating patterns - regular fruit and veg from when kids are weaning, water not sugar filled squash and easy on the sugar when they are little. Those early health eating habits will make the biggest difference to heath chances not the feeding in the first few months.

mad long as your baby is fed and you are coping, it’s all good,

Thanks so much everyone! X

My daughter is 19 months old and apart from a few days of trying to combination feed (and failing pathetically - but she preferred formula anyways) she has been exclusively formula fed. She is thriving! Her milestones have all been met on time - although she was a little late to walk but that's totally down to her cautious and slightly lazy nature rather than anything physical. I wouldn't put meeting milestones down to how children are fed either, there's so many different variables and every child will develop in their own time x

Breastfeeding has health benefits for mum and baby. The increased skin to skin also helps baby develop their amygdala, responsible for emotional regulation.
There is a good study that shows the risks associated with not breastfeeding - here is a summary of some of the findings.

www.bmj.com/content/369/bmj.m875

At the end of the day you need to do what's right for you, and not everyone has the support or ability to breastfeed and formula is a good alternative- but breastmilk is exactly designed for baby in a way that formula isn't. X

What difference does it make? If a poster were to say no my formula/breastfed fed baby rolled, walked, talked later etc it makes no sense to put that down to what milk they had. Development varies based on loads of factors and is mostly random. If you want to breast feed do so if you don’t then don’t. As a pp said this is totally pointless question you’ve asked and it would be quite silly to base your personal decision on whether or not to breastfeed based on the anecdotal answers you’re given.

My 2 who are now 6 and 3 have less sickness than their peers and are doing very well with milestones. I don't think anything could be better. Apart from cheekiness and ungratefulness.

OP - please ignore this poster and the article. Formula is not damaging to your baby - it’s an amazing product and gives your baby an excellent start in life - that’s why so many of give it to our very precious babies. My DT’s are an example of the benefits. Huge advantages of formula is that you can share night feedings so you don’t get so tired and everyone can help in giving the bottles (highly recommend perfect prep machine) - one of my favourite photos is of DFil giving DS a bottle - he had flown across the world for that very special moment.

My eldest was formula fed from day 1. He is fantastically healthy, hit all milestones as he should have done, has only been majorly sick once (he’s 4!) when he was a baby. He is a chatty bright confident child. My youngest had one month of breast milk so I don’t really have a fully BF child to compare to. Obviously breast milk has properties that formula doesn’t, but to be honest, formula has been a life saver and I haven’t regretted my decision to give it and never will.

Hey, when I was in hospital after giving birth the Doctor told me that there is the most minimal difference between breast and formula. There is actually only 1 difference which is a specific nutrient the breast produces which they can’t make in formula.

Im very much Pro-formula here because I began breast feeding my little one and it turned out he used me as a dummy and wasn’t taking much milk, but because I was breast feeding I couldn’t see how much he was drinking. I was advised by the doctors and midwife to try bottle feeding so we could monitor how much he was drinking….

5 years later & he’s still just as perfect :-)

I combi fed both for 6 months each, then ff only until 1.

Both doing absolutely great.

My ff baby developed constipation from 2 months old and still on long term medication for constipation at 4 years old. My bf baby is 3 months old and no sign of constipation yet. I always blamed myself for causing her constipation by not breastfeeding. Who knows if it would make a difference.

I bf both for three months and then swapped to formula. From then on from a selfish point of view I felt more in control, better mentally and enjoyed parenthood much more, probably because we all got a lot more sleep!

I combi fed first bf 6month FF 6months and exclusive bf the second. Both children no difference with health or milestones. I just preferred to breastfeed and found it easier in the long run but definitely hard at first (bonus for my situation breast milk is free and we were on a very tight budget with the second child) But health wise they are both very similar. I would say there is no real difference from what I seen in my friends bf and FF babies too. Just go with what works for you and have no guilt!

Mostly formula fed baby, remember having these thoughts too, my baby met most of his milestones besides crawling, he was a late for that but fast for walking? I don't think ti makes any difference at all!

*fed is best
*
that's all that matters :)

He's 2.5 now and thriving, I couldn't be more blessed. OP you got this!

@CharlieHan perhaps the doctor didn't explain it very well as there are dozens of components of breastmilk that aren't and cannot be added to formula. Just do a search for components of breastmilk compared to formula and you will find many articles about this.

It’s a peer-reviewed article in the British Medical Journal. It’s not Take A Break. You can dislike the content but that doesn’t make it untrue, unfortunately.

Formula is a product which is suitable for feeding babies and will meet their nutritional requirements. But ultimately it is freeze-dried cows’ milk with added vegetable oil and vitamins. Breastmilk is a living substance which contains antibodies and adapts from feed to feed and throughout the baby’s development to perfectly meet its needs. If formula manufacturers could perfectly replicate that, they’d be all over it, but they can’t for the same reason that pharmaceutical companies haven’t been able to make an artificial blood to use in blood transfusions. You cannot replicate a living body fluid in a lab.

All very interesting, but not what the OP asked. Milestones are arbitrary, and not related to if the baby is fed formula, breast milk, or a combination. A lot of the milestones happen after the baby is weaned anyway, so even more factors to debate. Broccoli vs cauliflower? Peas vs carrots? Pringles vs Walkers?

I was commenting on a previous poster, not the OP.

And if we’re splitting hairs, what the OP is clearly asking is are formula and breastmilk as good as each other. To which the answer is: formula is nutritionally complete, and if you prepare it properly, it’s safe. Babies will be fine on it. But it simply cannot be as good as breastmilk due to the fundamental differences between the substances and the fact that some key components are impossible to replicate.

It always becomes an emotive topic but that doesn’t mean the realities disappear.

@Parker231 I didn't say formula is damaging, I said it's a good alternative but that ultimately it will never match the nutritional and immunological benefits of breastfeeding. If you choose not to or cannot breastfeed it's obviously wonderful we now have safe formula, and yes it's a safe, nutritious alternative, but that doesn't mean it's exactly on par. There is much research into the benefits of Breastfeeding for both mum and baby, it's why formula companies are not allowed to advertise first infant formula in the UK, and they also all advise that breastmilk is "best" as a disclaimer. I don't think the "best" arguments are helpful as they can make vulnerable mothers feel bad, but there is no denying these words are used on all the product pictures - online at least. Trying to deny the nutritional benefits of Breastfeeding is not helping anyone. Everyone needs to do what feels right and yes using formula means others can help with the feeds and this is a benefit..but breastfeeding means no or less sterilising, prep, money spent etc and it's often quicker to do night feeds too. Anyway, I just wanted to share some research. I would never judge another mother for how she feeds her baby, but women need good information and support, so they can make an informed decision.

@GiantCheeseMonster this.

No that is not what they asked at all:

”To mums who exclusively formula fed, did your babies develop and hit their milestones just as well as breastfed babies (if you had any to compare to?)”

THe OP wanted to hear from mums who exclusively formula fed for a start - so looks like a lot of us can’t read! I’ve got no skin in the game, but it was about hitting milestones, of which there is no evidence of defences due to feeding, and as I said a lot of the milestones come after weaning. This is also if we looking solely at nutrition. There are obviously a lot of other factors.

Breastfeeding has certain health benefits for mother and baby that formula feeding doesn't, but there is no difference developmentally. All babies hit milestones at different times regardless of how they are fed. I've breastfed all of mine. DC1 walked at 13 months, DC2 walked at 18 months 🤷🏼‍♀️