It's puzzled me so often why there is this perception of formula-fed kids as wheezing and sneezing their way through life. It's just not true, and anyone who really takes a good look around can see that it isn't.
Right - population risks are treated like individual certainties. Although you definitely see it from the other side as well - "I was formula fed and I turned out fine, so there's nothing wrong with formula." (Or - yeesh - "I gave my baby cereal at three months and she's fine, so I have no problem recommending that to others.")
But I have noticed, for example, that formula feeding mothers are OMG IRRESPONSIBLE because their babies have a higher risk of ear infections... but most lactivists don't have a problem with mothers putting their babies at higher risk of measles (or whatever) by not vaccinating. Measles is just a minor, benign childhood disease, you see, but ear infections mean that your kid is sickly.
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Date: 2006-04-14 10:34 am (UTC)Right - population risks are treated like individual certainties. Although you definitely see it from the other side as well - "I was formula fed and I turned out fine, so there's nothing wrong with formula." (Or - yeesh - "I gave my baby cereal at three months and she's fine, so I have no problem recommending that to others.")
But I have noticed, for example, that formula feeding mothers are OMG IRRESPONSIBLE because their babies have a higher risk of ear infections... but most lactivists don't have a problem with mothers putting their babies at higher risk of measles (or whatever) by not vaccinating. Measles is just a minor, benign childhood disease, you see, but ear infections mean that your kid is sickly.