breastfed babies result in better behaved children?

[Janidog]

I think it's a load of rubbish tbh.

How your child behaves comes down to the parenting, not whether they have been bf or ff. They really are scraping the barrell to promote bf with this one.

It still won't encourage me to BF, i will still be FF the next baby from birth

 

[hellohefalump]

Madeleine was breastfed for 21 months, and Michael has been formula fed from birth. If I had to choose who was the 'easier' child, it would have to be Michael! He's much more laid back than Madeleine ever was, and Madeleine can throw the most amazing strops sometimes! (Usually she's lovely though )

 

[Karina&Bump]

All the tests and research that goes into these findings are not complete as all babies are different.
These studies don't really prove anything unless you have exactly the same child raised under exactly the same conditions, with the only changing factor being ff and bf you can never know for sure. From that I don't think its possible to say how what diet/milk you were brought up on dictates how emotionally secure the child becomes in later life. It's never a true scientific test, just evidence leaning one way or the other.

 

[jojo2605]

I can't see how this can be true based simply on how the baby is fed. But I do agree that there are certain social characteristics that may as a whole be attributed to one or the other which may affect a child's behaviour. But it's not good to generalise and I do honestly think that besides neurological conditions, behaviour leans more towords the 'nuture' side of the 'nature vs nuture' concept.

 

[special_kala]

Am i the only FF that doesnt see studies like this as targeting FF and promoting BF?

Its just a study....like the studies that show if you eat 5 veg a day you live longer...or if you live in kent your more likely to get kidney disease (thats not true just example) we dont all get offended by those studies and say "well i dont eat 5 a day and i lived to 99" or "i live in kent and my kidneys are fine"

I also dont see this whole you must BF conspiracy others do, yea its recommended but its not like there is a panel of crazy extremist BF's that sit there and say if we put this study out formula feeders will feel bad!

They do studies on everything now

 

[xemmax]

All the tests and research that goes into these findings are not complete as all babies are different.
These studies don't really prove anything unless you have exactly the same child raised under exactly the same conditions, with the only changing factor being ff and bf you can never know for sure. From that I don't think its possible to say how what diet/milk you were brought up on dictates how emotionally secure the child becomes in later life. It's never a true scientific test, just evidence leaning one way or the other.

Well yes but that can be said for almost all the research in the world. Does that mean that unless it is possible to isolate every single other potentially influential factor in the world that a study cannot be trusted? That's impossible for ALL social studies.

 

[xemmax]

Am i the only FF that doesnt see studies like this as targeting FF and promoting BF?

Its just a study....like the studies that show if you eat 5 veg a day you live longer...or if you live in kent your more likely to get kidney disease (thats not true just example) we dont all get offended by those studies and say "well i dont eat 5 a day and i lived to 99" or "i live in kent and my kidneys are fine"

I also dont see this whole you must BF conspiracy others do, yea its recommended but its not like there is a panel of crazy extremist BF's that sit there and say if we put this study out formula feeders will feel bad!

They do studies on everything now

Exactly.

We've all heard the "well my Nan smoked 60 a day for 60 years and never got cancer" stories, but does that mean that the research which shows smoking causes cancer is rubbish? Of course not.

 

[leash27]

I don't know if I am being defensive because I FF but I am inclined to believe its a load of crap! The way a child behaves is down to parenting style and discipline and its as simple as that!

Its ridiculous to think that BF is the way to ensure a child behaves as they grow up! Does that mean BF mums can abandon all sense of discipline and rely on BF to make sure they have a well behaved LO, while us FF mums need to crack the whip to keep them in line?!

I love a good 'breast is best' study, it makes me feel grrrrrrrrreat for being a big fat BF failure!!

x

 

[xemmax]

I can't see how this can be true based simply on how the baby is fed. But I do agree that there are certain social characteristics that may as a whole be attributed to one or the other which may affect a child's behaviour. But it's not good to generalise and I do honestly think that besides neurological conditions, behaviour leans more towords the 'nuture' side of the 'nature vs nuture' concept.

But the act of feeding falls well within the concept of nurture.

 

[jojo2605]

Am i the only FF that doesnt see studies like this as targeting FF and promoting BF?

Its just a study....like the studies that show if you eat 5 veg a day you live longer...or if you live in kent your more likely to get kidney disease (thats not true just example) we dont all get offended by those studies and say "well i dont eat 5 a day and i lived to 99" or "i live in kent and my kidneys are fine"

I also dont see this whole you must BF conspiracy others do, yea its recommended but its not like there is a panel of crazy extremist BF's that sit there and say if we put this study out formula feeders will feel bad!

They do studies on everything now

I agree in a way yeah, as you say, there are so many studies carried out nowadays, and god knows for what reasons as they just don't seem to serve any purpose at all! Although I couldn't hand on heart say for sure that there wasn't some underlying agenda to support the whole BF debate.

However, I have not come across the whole crazy extremist BF thing either. In fact I was never pressured or even asked whether I intended to in both my pregnancies, I offered the information up!

I think these sorts of studies should be taken with a pinch of salt in all honesty.

 

[special_kala]

Its just numbers and figures....trends in BF children compared to FF. It isnt saying thats it you FF your child is going to be a sh*te.

Im a failed BF and i know i could have pushed harder to succeed but i dont feel bad about that and im not about to let some study make me feel bad.

The study doesnt judge anyone for FF but it seems alot of people decide it is or choose to judge themselves

 

[xemmax]

The way a child behaves is down to parenting style and discipline and its as simple as that!

Sorry to target this one comment but can I just say this really winds me up.

Not for the first time on this thread it is asserted by parents of very young children that "this" is how you raise a well behaved child.

It is rubbish, come back in 15 years and let's see how your child behaves.

My brothers and I were all "badly behaved" in different ways and I can assure you they were not down to my parents' "parenting style" or "discipline".

If we knew how to create perfectly well behaved, well mannered children then we would ALL do it, wouldn't we? There are many influential factors out of a parents' control and I hope to God none of us end up raising a child with behavioural difficulties but the likelihood is that many of us will.

If it was as easy as just setting boundaries and disciplining then the world would be a much better place and parenting would be a hell of a lot easier!

 

[xxClaire_24xx]

I don't know if I am being defensive because I FF but I am inclined to believe its a load of crap! The way a child behaves is down to parenting style and discipline and its as simple as that!

Its ridiculous to think that BF is the way to ensure a child behaves as they grow up! Does that mean BF mums can abandon all sense of discipline and rely on BF to make sure they have a well behaved LO, while us FF mums need to crack the whip to keep them in line?!

I love a good 'breast is best' study, it makes me feel grrrrrrrrreat for being a big fat BF failure!!

x

I feel the same and TBH was thinking about it there we are VERY lucky to have Ellie (she stopped breathing at day 3 and only just got her back) and if I need to FF then so be it and if she does misbehave when older because I have FF since she was 8 weeks then Im looking forward to the challenge cause she is here and alive!! xx

 

[Karina&Bump]

All the tests and research that goes into these findings are not complete as all babies are different.
These studies don't really prove anything unless you have exactly the same child raised under exactly the same conditions, with the only changing factor being ff and bf you can never know for sure. From that I don't think its possible to say how what diet/milk you were brought up on dictates how emotionally secure the child becomes in later life. It's never a true scientific test, just evidence leaning one way or the other.

Well yes but that can be said for almost all the research in the world. Does that mean that unless it is possible to isolate every single other potentially influential factor in the world that a study cannot be trusted? That's impossible for ALL social studies.

I can see how other factors may come into it but the findings would never really be conclusive as it would have to be done on the exact same child. Taking two children (obviously I know there would be alot more for it to be deemed a study) one ff and the other bf is not enough to say that the bf will be more emotionally secure in later life. What I am trying to say is that the child may be exaclty the same later in life if he/she was brought up on a different kind of milk be it ff or bf. There is no possible way of knowing

 

[jojo2605]

I can't see how this can be true based simply on how the baby is fed. But I do agree that there are certain social characteristics that may as a whole be attributed to one or the other which may affect a child's behaviour. But it's not good to generalise and I do honestly think that besides neurological conditions, behaviour leans more towords the 'nuture' side of the 'nature vs nuture' concept.

But the act of feeding falls well within the concept of nurture.

Yes I guess you're right. But then I guess we would need to look at the differences between the two feeding methods and look for reasons why these would have an affect on behaviour years after the feeding method has stopped. I personally don't feel that my children are any less bonded to me because I bottle-fed them both. Feeding time regardless is a close and personal time. And I have also done other things such as co-sleeping and skin to skin, baby wearing, etc, that I could see that if there was an argument there based on the closeness a baby feels when BF, that these things would balance that out? That's my take on it anyway.

 

[bubbles123]

These kind of issues are always where science can be vulnerable IMO. Science sees things in black and white, real life and real emotions are so much more complicated. It is never as simple as that. X

 

[Gen79]

I'm not going to get any popularity points here but I'll do it anyway. When the statistics point to putting baby to bed on his back to prevent SIDS everyone rallies around it. So how come when a statistic points to breastfeeding being superior, so many decide not to believe it?

I'm not saying I think this study is very useful, because I don't. I'm inclined to think it says more about the parenting style of the typical breastfeeder which a formula feeder can easily have as well, obviously - and many do, which is why its not useful.

But you can't just say that the study is crap because it doesn't hold out in your household. That's why they do a study, because one case doesn't show a trend. The trend is there, but it doesn't mean you're a bad mom if you formula feed.

 

[xemmax]

All the tests and research that goes into these findings are not complete as all babies are different.
These studies don't really prove anything unless you have exactly the same child raised under exactly the same conditions, with the only changing factor being ff and bf you can never know for sure. From that I don't think its possible to say how what diet/milk you were brought up on dictates how emotionally secure the child becomes in later life. It's never a true scientific test, just evidence leaning one way or the other.

Well yes but that can be said for almost all the research in the world. Does that mean that unless it is possible to isolate every single other potentially influential factor in the world that a study cannot be trusted? That's impossible for ALL social studies.

I can see how other factors may come into it but the findings would never really be conclusive as it would have to be done on the exact same child. Taking two children (obviously I know there would be alot more for it to be deemed a study) one ff and the other bf is not enough to say that the bf will be more emotionally secure in later life. What I am trying to say is that the child may be exaclty the same later in life if he/she was brought up on a different kind of milk be it ff or bf. There is no possible way of knowing

Yes I totally agree with what you're saying but it is a fundamental flaw in all social research.

 

[special_kala]

I'm not going to get any popularity points here but I'll do it anyway. When the statistics point to putting baby to bed on his back to prevent SIDS everyone rallies around it. So how come when a statistic points to breastfeeding being superior, so many decide not to believe it?

I'm not saying I think this study is very useful, because I don't. I'm inclined to think it says more about the parenting style of the typical breastfeeder which a formula feeder can easily have as well, obviously - and many do, which is why its not useful.

But you can't just say that the study is crap because it doesn't hold out in your household. That's why they do a study, because one case doesn't show a trend. The trend is there, but it doesn't mean you're a bad mom if you formula feed.

 

[tommyg]

I only have one baby and have only breastfed her, so I have a very limited experience- but I have found that we bond mostly when we are playing and she is exploring and learning. I've never really felt big rushes of love while feeding, they come at different times for me. But I do love the cuddles

RedRose I was starting to think their was something wrong with me that I didn't feel huge rushes of love while BFing. Glad I am not alone.
Like you I get much more from playing with him and I absoulty LOVE watching Daddy playing with him that is something really special for me. I can't work out why I think it might be because I spent lots of time every day with LO where Daddy doesn't so when he's home he gives more intense quality time than I do.

Regards to behaviour between FF and BF I think that sounds nonsense it's more to do with parenting than anything else.