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Breastfed babies getting less sick? I am not so sure about that one. It is what the experts say but my sister and SIL both breastfed their children for a year and their kids are sick all of the time. My SIL's kids get strep throat and ear infections like crazy. They were never in daycare and are very clean people. I just wonder what real research they have on this issue. I am not questioning breast being best I just wonder about the sickness. I tried to bf my son but it was too painful and he has always been very healthy. Only had 1 ear infection and a couple colds since birth and is 3. I also have several friends who didn't bf and their children are also healthy.

It has more to do with the general population, not individual cases. Several studies have shown that b/f babies are sick less, hospitalized less, and their working moms take less time off to tend to sick babies. On the flip side of your observations, my sister and sister-in-law both bottlefed and their kids have had so many colds and ear infections i've lost count. i breastfed as did my OTHER sister-in law and my best friend, and my daughter (2) still has yet to get an ear infection and has only had one cold- interestingly, it developed the same week we had to give her formula supplements. just my answer.

In my personal experience, breastfeeding has kept my baby very healthy! I breastfed Asjani for 6 months and she has not been sick yet. No ear infections, no colds, no nothing! I had only planned to breastfeed for 4 months, but ended up doing it 6 months exclusively! Breastmilk fattens up babies, and I have a beautiful healthy "honey roasted" butterball. :) She's so cute! She is 6 1/2 months and weighs 17 lbs. She was 8lbs at birth.

Breast milk contains antibodies to help your baby resist certain infections. Antibodies in breast milk boost your baby's immunity against ear infections, respiratory infections such as pneumonia, and digestive infections such as diarrhea and constipation. Breast milk also reduces a baby's risk of developing allergies, tooth decay, high blood pressure and obesity later in life, although how this protection works is unknown.

http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/HowBr
eastmilkProtectsNewborns.pdf

http://www.p
jms.com.pk/issues/aprjun05/pdf/breast_milk.p
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I feel like I'm going in circles. Anyways, there is no universal accepted position even though organizations recommend otherwise. But it is supported universally by physicians to breastfeed at least till 6 months. After a year nutrition needs are recieved more from solids. If you go further its your choice. This site asks how long you breastfed. In general this site is for people to express their ways of childrearing and I think its o.k if they want to explain why they are doing things the way they want or how they percieve it. Everyone is different and do what they want. I see nothing wrong with explaining why I'm doing it differently. I am not anal nor am I calling you names. I just try to understand it. I can see that it may be of some benefit up to 1 1/2 years and I agree that breasts are for nourishment during nursing, but how do you explain that to a preschooler when they are at an age capable of understanding that boobs are a private thing and not just for nursing? Its not me with the problem. Its just makes me uncomfortable to think that they are bound to learn it from society when they start socializing with other children, T.V. and as mentioned before they too will feel awkward when their friends tease them. Moreover, kindly say your name. Staying anonymous just shows how insecure you MAY be in expressing your views in childrearing.

" Its just makes me uncomfortable to think that they are bound to learn it from society when they start socializing with other children, T.V. and as mentioned before they too will feel awkward when their friends tease them." Why can't it be left at these are your feelings and perceptions and that some of us could care less what is on TV or what "society" (which is subjectively defined) finds "normal" or that you are uncomfortable with someone else breastfeeding for whatever length of time. I am still trying to figure out how or why prescoolers are talking about breasts in the first place. How does the fact that you are breastfed come up in conversation?

Are you kidding? Kids are obsessed with bodies, and sex - they're learning, and learning whats private, and "taboo" to talk about, and mess with.

Kids who are "obsessed" with bodies can be traced to parents who make "private" body taboo.

Its your prerogative what you want to do it and why. I don't think breastfeeding is wrong as I've stated before. For me, I care how society will affect my child and I care how my child may think. These days you'd be surprised how many things they may pick up with friends including many bad words from neighbourhood, daycare, kindergarden. Furthermore, is it subjective /objective in knowing that preschoolers are capable of higher reasoning than toddlers? Also is there some truth to what "society" has to say about breasts and older children? Do you think its easy to separate the meaning of breasts and what society thinks to your child? For me I don't want to go through that. That's my preference and reasoning. I don't know, but I get a sense your mocking me.

From reading your last post, I believe the problem lies in which age group we are talking about. You are talking about kindergarteners, I am talking preschoolers. Preschoolers are in the 2 to 4 age range and while I don't doubt their higher reasoning skills, I do doubt their ability to fully understand sexuality. If we start at this age to teach them that their bits are "naughty" then what you and others are assuming will be topics of discussion later is valid. How many kids sit around talking about fingers or toes they way they talk about a penis or vagina. I do think they should know that these parts ARE private, but I don't think we should project "adult" connotations at this age. I simply do not believe they will grasp the concept, but they will pick up that mommy or daddy is uncomfortable talking about them etc.

I've been working in daycare field for the past 6 years and from experience I have seen how children socialize, what they can pick up from each other. They know that boobs are private, they giggle just saying the word. They also know the proper names for privates-penis and vagina. No one, as an adult has told preschoolers that its nasty. But the young ones do know that its private and that alone is enough to bring on giggles. I am not implying that preschoolers know about sex like adults but the older preschoolers do know about kissing, having girlsfriends/boyfriends and crushes. Junior kindergarten at school starts at 4 years.--------------------------------
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development of children. Piaget’s cognitive developmental theory of preschool children between 2-7 years of age (cited in Santrock 1988 page 167). It is a time in a child’s life where he/she has an Iincreased understanding of the world and is now more able to describe them and to communicate what he/she wants. Piaget divided the years into two substages the 1. Symbolic 2. Intuitive
During the Symbolic stage (2-4 years of age), children are imaginative and are now able to use symbols to represent objects that are not present (i.e., a block for a car). Children tend to scribble when they draw however, the picture will begin to have meaning that represents an object or people they see. Nevertheless, even though there is more understanding of the world children sometimes have difficulty understanding what other children want or feel and may see things from only their point of view (Santrock 1988, page 173).
During the Intuitive stage (4-7 years of age), children have an increased attention span, memory and are more knowledgeable about their environment. Children are now capable of reasoning, understanding others and becoming responsible individuals (Santrock, 1988 p.173).

That's all very interesting, but I don't see how it supports your point. Please enlighten me.

In fact after another reading it supports my point. How or why is it that children giggle at the mention of private parts if they aren't socialized first by their parents then others that talking about "boobs" is something that should be giggled about?

The fact that they can understand that it is private and to respect it as such is good enough for me to wonder how they perceive the breast especially in relation to friends. I'm assuming some parents are just treating the matter as a feeding time. If you did say to your child its private, how do you define private to a junior preschooler? The person I know who teaches extended breastfeeding is still breastfeeding her 5 year old. I can tell you that the family including her husband is still trying to understand why this long. But like I said, its a preference. If giving immunity is important than why not pump and give in a cup. They are very capable of eating on their own?

The percieve the breast however they are conditioned to percieve. If they are conditioned to believe that it is a private naughty bit then you get shame and giggling. If they are conditioned to believe its primary function is nourishment and nurturing the response is somewhat different.

Yes, they are already conditioned to salivate at the sight of breast knowing its for nurishment(like Pavlov and his dog experiment with food and bell), but now they are learning another meaning to it which is inevitable I think. For example, in the nude topic, mom42 child, made a point of saying your bottom is showing, Jbear advised areas that are off limits, Jamie perceives potty time as private for the future. This just shows me that they understand that some parts of the body are not for everyone to see, they are closed and off limits. I don't think these parents are calling it naughty in their definition of private. I'm still waiting for Beth to tell me how old the girl was who made another comment to the others. So you just proved to me that they are bound to learn it somehow from friends or family.