Hello. I'm popping over from the baby club. I was just wanting to see how many people with formula fed babies grew up healthy or less sick/more sick often...also for breastfed babies? My daughter has been combi fed till 6 months and I'm worried she won't be as healthy since she mostly gets formula (I couldn't make enough milk) I'm hoping people will have stories of their babys being healthy and not always sick. Thanks

I breastfed only my first or a few weeks after that formula, and number 2 & 3 ff only

They are all healthy kids and have never had anything other than usual childhood illnesses

I breastfed DD exclusively until 2 months, then mix fed for a further month, then from 3 months she went onto just formula.

By contrast DS1 and DS2 were exclusively breastfed until a year and a half. (well, DS1 for about 19 months and DS2 for 18 months).

Out of the three of them, DS2 is probably the most prone to catching stuff. He has mild asthma and needs inhalers, and gets chest infections the most often. If there are any colds going, he gets them worst of the three kids.

Next after that is DD. She is the most likely to get a tummy bug and throw up if there is one going around. If she has a cold it lingers a bit, but not as much as with DS2.

DS1 is the healthiest of the lot. No idea why. He was the smallest at birth (I say smallest, but he was still big, 10lbs 1oz) out of the three of them, but then again he was breastfed the longest (though only marginally). He was also the one who had the most issues with eating solids when he was a baby. He refused solids altogether until about 15 months old, and his weight dropped to 9th percentile from 91st. He was essentially just surviving on breastmilk!
If he gets poorly, he gets over it the quickest. Colds don't tend to linger with him, and tummy bugs are over the quickest.

When the three of them caught chicken pox last year, DS1 got it first and he had it the least severe. Then DD and DS2 got it, and out of the two of them, DS2 had it the worst, though only marginally.

So, no, there doesn't seem to be any correlation between the breast feeding and how ill my kids have been. I can't really make any conclusions to be honest.

my babies have been exclusive ff from birth and up until now they have not been sick once! they are only 5 months old but knock on wood they will only get typical childhood illness

on the other hand I know someone who has exclusively breastfed both her babies and the girl always gets sick...even the boy who is not yet 6 months always has some sort of cold or flu

breastmilk is best but I am not 100% convinced that it prevents babies from being sick....it depends on the baby...no matter what we do some kids are just prone to sickness...both myself and my husband were eff and we never got sick has kids...just common cold here and there!

I breastfed my five yr old until she was 21 months, and I formula fed my son from birth. Both get sick around the same now... They are both quite healthy, but every now and again if there's a bug going around they both get it. For example, this week they've both had conjunctivitis. Usually my daughter gets ill first because she's at school now and catches stuff. Then her brother catches it. This time though he got the conjunctivitis first and gave it to her. My fifteen yr old sister who I look after was breastfed until she was three, and she still gets sick, then passes it to the little ones, and sometimes they give things to her.

To be honest I don't think it makes a big difference how you feed. For example, my daughter who was breastfed had breathing problems as a toddler and excema, quite bad. My son though has a little excema but its not as bad as hers was.

I am pro breast feeding though. It's natural, it helps you lose weight, protects against breast cancer, breast milk is great and its so cool how it turns watery in the summer, thicker when the baby needs it, etc. I would have breastfed my son but I had puerpal psychosis and was on too many meds to breastfeed safely. I was worried that my son would get obese from formula milk, but he was actually thinner than Madeleine, y breastfed baby, she had rolls all over her, while mojo was always quite skinny.

My first was FF and my second was mixed fed for a few weeks, neither are ever ill to be honest! They're never physically sick and rarely suffer from colds etc

I formula fed both of my children and both have great immune systems, rarely get sick and developing appropriately for their ages. I am not convinced that "breast is best" but I am convinced that how you feed your child is a personal choice. No matter what your choice is, it matters that your child is receiving nutrition and being cared for . I think as far as immune systems are concerned, its more hereditary then anything. DH and I both have amazing immune systems and rarely get sick so I think our boys inherited it from us! Lots of luck with whatever decision you make!!

Edit: Sorry I know baby is already 5 months...son distracted me when I was typing. I am sure your LO will be happy and healthy!!!!

My LO was fed BM for 11wks- then formula (long story, but Breast Feeding didn't work so I pumped for a while). She's caught the stomache flu once at 12mos (our entire house got it)- and had a mild cold (sniffles only) one time more recently. She's 15mos though- so who knows what may or may not happen in the years to come? She does have seasonal allergies (not allergic to any foods though)- but her Dad had horrible allergies as a kid and I developed them as an adult- so her risk was high.

My SD wasn't breastfed for more than maybe 2-3wks I think. I think she's a pretty darn healthy kid- she get's the normal cold now and again... but overall, she's very healthy. No allergies to food or otherwise.

My friends LO was BF for 12mos- and has a constantly runny nose and gotten so many different colds and other illnesses from daycare. I think there is just only so much anyone can do. I will say my LO doesn't go to daycare. My MIL comes to our house to watch her- so that can make a big difference. She does go to the gym care 2-3 times a week though (so she is in that "type" of environment around other kids) and she is also out in public often. We don't shield her from much.

My 3 sons are 21, 19 and 12 and all were formula feed. Yes, they are healthy and never had any health issues..