I thought breastfeeding would protect my daughter from colds?

Question

my daughter is 6 months old and breastfed since day 1. well within the past 3 weeks shes gotten 2 bad colds which one she has now. i love nursing and benefits seemed wonderful but now why is it that her immune sysem isnt any stronger than that of a formula fed baby? i just feel so bad for her and i thought i was doing everything right to prevent sickness

Answer 1

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker

Her immune system isn't any stronger. The difference is that you can make antibodies, which are transferred to her in the breastmilk, that can help her fight off infection. Breastfeeding doesn't prevent illness, it reduces the frequency and duration of it. That's a common misconception; breastfeeding doesn't make for stronger immune systems, it gives existing immune systems more tools to work with.

A child who is breastfed will probably wind up with a stronger immune system than if they had been formula fed, but this is because they had the better means to fight off disease.

It's quite likely that if she were on formula, she would be sick more often, and her colds would be lasting longer.

The best thing you can do is to wash your hands, and make sure that everyone around her does, as well. Your best offense is a good defense, and by nursing her, you've already got the best possible start.

Asker's Rating:

Asker's Comment:

thanks...went to docs this afternoon and she has a double ear infection and needs to be tested for RSV :( im hoping my breastmilk will works it magic!

Answer 2

Only way to prevent sickness is to eliminate all germs and contact with germs...which essentially means live in a bubble! The immune system strength will determine how fast one's body fights off the germs, it won't eliminate the illnesses! Make sure you wash hands, bottles etc really well...wash her hands also regularly!

Answer 3

nothing can really protect her from a cold, the cold virus mutates so quickly that any antibodies she recieved from you would be from an older virus form. thats why colds are so contagious, and why there is no vaccine for it.

Breastfeeeding does provide immunities against other early childhood diseases. There are many other benefits outside disease prevention too. Be proud that you breastfeed, and keep it up!!

Answer 4

You are doing everything right. But unfortunatly there are no guarantees. I bf my daughter for the first 2 weeks. Stopped after that, plus i dried out. (I pumped cause she was a lazy sucker and would always fall asleep at the nipple)

I was lucky, my daughter just got over her first cold at 14 months.

But babies get sick, and with a cold, there is not much you can do for an infant. Don't feel bad, i know you do, i would to. But you have done all you can, so now, just comfort her as much as you can.

Answer 5

Breastfeeding is a wonderful defense against colds, but it's not an all-encompassing shield of protection. Babies who are breastfed exclusively still get sick, although the theory is that it won't be as bad, as long, or as often. However - I've found, in GENERAL, that there is no real difference between breast and bottle in the short or long term. I've got many friends and relatives who have every scenario - breast only with kids who are sick all the time, formula only with kids who haven't been sick a day in their life, etc. I think the bottom line is do all you can, with breastmilk and washing hands, cleaning toys, etc., but all kids are different, and this means different immune systems.

Answer 6

it may not prevent it but it will make it less severe than it would have been

Answer 7

Breast feeding a baby isn't going to protect them from every little cough or cold. It probably isn't her, it may even be the fact there is something wrong with your body and it might be the root of the problem.

Answer 8

It does protect her from colds, but it's not like putting your baby in a sealed plastic bubble. By breastfeeding her your are giving her all of your immunities, an advantage formula fed babies do NOT get. Formula fed babies are more likely to get sick because their immune systems are basically starting at square 1. Your baby still has a much better immune system because she has some immunities right out the gate. BUT, the problem with the common cold, and why it has been so much harder to cure than many more serious diseases, is because it is constantly mutating. Last year's "common cold" is completely different than this years. Which is why YOU can keep getting sick (otherwise you'd get the common cold once and be good for life), and in turn, why baby can still catch a cold too. You are doing everything right! You are giving your baby so many amazing benefits by breastfeeding, immunity being one them. Don't feel discouraged, even the healthiest of immune systems still succumbs to a cold or flu every now and then. Just keep on doing what your doing, you sound like a great mommy.

Source(s):

nursing student, mommy of 18month old and 34 weeks pregnant

Answer 9

All children will get colds( it actually helps build the immune system up in most cases). Breastfeeding does not protect your baby from all germs. I have 3 children, 2 breastfed and 1 formula fed and there was no difference in how many colds they ended up with.

Answer 10

There is no question breast milk is best, but she IS a baby with an immature immune system. My son was formula fed and my daughter was exclusively breast fed....my son got sick less! I don't understand it either, but I do know that each child is different. Some just pick up every little thing and others just don't. The best you can do is to wash your hands religiously, try to keep her in during the winter when colds are the most prevalent and keep breast feeding...there are way more benefits other than just antibodies that fight germs.

Answer 11

Ah, the nasty colds! I breastfed my three kids and I can say that it certainly does reduce the chance of severe illness but nothing short of immunity can take away the chance of getting sick. Unfortunately, kids have to get sick in order to fight the virus later in life. Knowing that, take some solice in also knowing that your efforts in breastfeeding are NOT in vain! You are giving your daughter the best gift you can! Good for you!

Answer 12

i have a nursling who has had about 5 colds thru her 7 months of life......but while all the other babies at her daycare have had ear infections and BAD colds......her colds have been light and she gets over them quickly with seeminly no discomfort

her immune system is stronger.....but breast babies get bugs too......but their ability to fight them off is much stronger

Answer 13

The first answer is right that the cold virus mutates too quickly.

But another point is you can't really know how much difference breastfeeding made for your child. You don't know when they avoided something, and you can't even know if these colds would have been more serious. It could be that if you formula fed she'd be even sicker, or possible not. The fact is overall breastfed babies are healthier than formula fed babies but no one ever said breastfed babies don't get sick.