How do you respond to people when they say...

[FoxintheSnow]

things like "My child was FF and never has ear infections and X's children were both BF and get ear infections all the time" or subsitute ear infection for some other thing that all the research says is more or less prevelant in ff babies vs bf babies.

Cause this is a the argument I get from some people constantly on why formula is just as good.

I usually respond and say "2 decades of research is a lot more telling than your observations of 3 children. 3 people does not equal a scientific study"

There are only so many times I can say the same thing!

[Ruthla]

How do you know those BF babies wouldn't have been even sicker if they'd been FF? How do you know those FF babies wouldn't have been even healthier if they'd been BF?

[EBeth0000]

My mom's favorite quote and it comes from someone famous I can't remember

"An anecdote is not data"

[sahmama_12]

Originally Posted by Ruthla

How do you know those BF babies wouldn't have been even sicker if they'd been FF? How do you know those FF babies wouldn't have been even healthier if they'd been BF?

:

[mntnmom]

" I'm glad your babes are healthy. BF is not a magic bullet, kids DO still get sick. But life is so uncertain, I see no reason to take any more risks with my kids health than I have to, and BF is one of the choices I can can make with the best PROVEN returns for my child.
Besides, it's free and I don't like the smell of formula." Which usually gets a smile, and allows me to lighten the conversation.

[Claire and Boys]

Not all smokers get lung cancer, and some live a long healthy life. Most people know someone like this.

Doesn't mean that smoking doesn't cause cancer or statistically, make people die younger.

No, I'm not comparing formula use to smoking, but this just illustrates how anecdotal evidence means nothing.

[Smokering]

Yeah, I'd tend to use the smoking thing. Heaps of women smoked while pregnant (still do, in fact) and their babies turned out fine--that doesn't mean it's a wise thing to do.

[ColoradoMama]

"Wow. That's great. I'm glad Jake and Allison (or whoever) were some of the lucky ones."

[leerypolyp]

Originally Posted by ColoradoMama

"Wow. That's great. I'm glad Jake and Allison (or whoever) were some of the lucky ones."

That. Or,

"Data is not the plural of anecdote."

Depending on the audience, of course.

[ErinsJuneBug]

I so badly want to say "For now....who know, 10 years from now they may develop cancer or some autoimmune disease that could have been prevented."

But alas - i just say "oh thats good."

[JBaxter]

Doesnt work for everyone but mine was..... Jesus was breastfed

[Mandynee22]

"Good for them" if I don't feel like dealing with it because well, those poeple usually won't be all that receptive anyway and have already written you off as a lunatic.
If I have the time and energy (read: if I'm bored) I'll say "well, that's great. Statistically though- it just isn't the norm."
Heck- my DD was FF exc after like 6 weeks. She was sick like once and had two ear infections that were picked up during regular checkups- otherwise I wouldn't have even known. My son (never has had formula) has had 4 million colds (give or take...) and I know that BF is better than FF. My DD just got lucky.

[MommytoTwo]

Well I have some authority when people ask me this, because my first child was FF and never was sick, no ear infections, nothing. My second child was BF for 16 months and had constant ear infections and asthma! LOL So my response is that There is no guarantee, but statistically speaking, you will have less ear infections etc etc w/ breastfeeding, and there is so much more to the relationship than avoiding ear infections.

(And #3 is still nursing w/ no ear infections yet at age 12 mos )

[lasciate]

My daughter was BF and has never had an ear infection. I was FF and have never had an ear infection. My brother was also FF and had tons of ear infections. See how pointless anecdotes are?

[LionessMom]

my doc told me it has to do more with the shape of your eustachian (sp?) tubes than anything. you get a cold and it backs up and makes it right for ear infections. bf babies are less likely to have frequent ear infections b/c of the properties of breastmilk, the action of nursing, and the passed on antibodies.
as for the formula being just as good.... they might be saying it because they dont want to feel bad about making that choice for their child. jmo.

[Romana]

I usually say, "Stories like that are interesting and can be compelling, but unfortunately they aren't a realiable basis of information. Fortunately, there are scientific studies that do demonstrate the positive effect of breastfeeding on _____________."

I try to say it casually and then ignore the blank stare or canned response: "Well, all I know is my sister's father-in-law's girlfriend's kids . . ."

[muppet729]

My favorite is my MIL saying that so-and-so's kids were ff and they have PHd's and are super smart, etc and SIL's kids were bf.... then she kind of trails off. Finally I blurted out, "What are you saying? SIL's kids are dumb as rocks?"

[FREEmom1120]

In my opinion people listen to anecdotes more than statistics, especially when it supports their lifestyle decisions.

How many people have I seen eat extremely unhealthily, smoke, etc and say their grandparents did it and lived til 98? Lots.

People like what they can see with their own eyes.

I personally take all studies done on humans with a grain of salt because of the infinite amount of outside influences, but that's just the statistics nerd in me.

[ErinsJuneBug]

Originally Posted by muppet729

My favorite is my MIL saying that so-and-so's kids were ff and they have PHd's and are super smart, etc and SIL's kids were bf.... then she kind of trails off. Finally I blurted out, "What are you saying? SIL's kids are dumb as rocks?"

Just wanted to let you know that your sig is wrong - unless you are pregnant with a child that will be 6 months younger than your baby

[roxyrox]

I normally say:
"Well one of my Grandfathers lived until 96 and smoked 20 day. My other Grandfather was the epitome of health - good diet, exercised a lot, never smoked but he dropped dead 3 days after his 60th birthday from a heart attack. Anecdotes are not data. Do you think smoking is healthy?"
It does make people think, I think.