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Breastfeeding - Does it Protect Kids From Neglect?
Filed under: Toddlers Preschoolers, Health & Safety: Babies, Development/Milestones: Babies, Day Care & Education, Feeding & Sleeping, Opinions, Baby-sitting, Research Reveals: Babies, Nutrition: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Babies, Health & Safety: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Development: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Behavior: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Activities: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Gear Guides: Babies, Gear Guides: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Research Reveals: Toddlers & Preschoolers, Expert Advice: Toddlers & Preschoolers
Breastfeeding does a baby's body good ... that much we already know. But a 15-year study of over 6,000 Australian children discovered that breastfeeding may benefit babies in another way -- protecting them from neglect.Babies who were breastfed for at least four months were significantly less likely to suffer abuse or neglect by their mothers than babies who weren't nursed at all. Experts believe that the hormone oxytocin, which is released when a baby nurses, helps mothers bond more closely with their baby. At least one critic of the study says that this finding is backwards. Breastfeeding doesn't create a stronger bond, it's just that women who go to the trouble of breastfeeding are more likely to also be nurturing mothers.
As a mom, I've both nursed and formula-fed, so I know how these studies can make you feel. I think these findings may be significant, but not in a fan-the-flames-of-the-mommy-wars kind of way. Because I believe that most parents -- no matter how they choose to feed their babies -- will create a strong bond with their children and provide loving care.
But I am wondering if these findings might be useful in certain situations. If a mother is known to be high-risk, providing encouragement, education, and support for breastfeeding might be one way to prevent problems down the road. What do you think about this study?
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ReaderComments (Page 1 of 1)
1-27-2009 @ 12:03PM
Jenn D said...What a load of bull.
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 2:32PM
Joti said...I have 5 children. I tried to breastfeed all of them, but my fourth child simply refused to take to the breast. Even the nursing consultant at the hospital gave up and said I would have to give him a bottle or he wasnt going to eat. He is now 10 years old. I have a very close relationship with all of my other kids, but he is 100% my trouble child and I have a really hard time bonding with him. He lies, steals and misbehaves continually at home and school with no remorse- he knows better and my other kids do not behave like this. I have tried all forms of punishment and even positive reenforcement, nothing seems to get through to him.
Coincidence???
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 7:20PM
penny said...I didn't breast feed any of my 4 children and they all are very close to me. My oldest even comes to me with for advise on how to handle the peer pressures around him and his friends.
Reply
1-27-2009 @ 9:46PM
penny said...I meant for advise not with. Gee that would be a little weird huh?
1-29-2009 @ 11:13AM
Ellen from MindBites.com said...I breast fed both of my kids for 12 months and had many friends who had babies at the same time as me. The one thing that I have noticed is that there is so much pressure put on moms to breast feed and people who don't are almost looked down upon. I think moms continue to breast feed even when they are uncomfortable with it and unhappy about it because they don't want the negative stigma associated with quitting.
What I have learned is that if the mother is uncomfortable and stressed about nursing, the stress transfers to the baby. The baby becomes irritable and cranky and that effects the harmony in the whole house.
I would say that nursing is only beneficial in creating a lovely bond between mother and child if the mother is "in" to breastfeeding and very comfortable and happy about it.
I actually would love to have some breastfeeding experts create a few video lessons and put them up for sale at http://www.MindBites.com. I think it would be very helpful to have an expert weigh in and teach people how to approach breastfeeding from a bonding perspective.
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