What are the differences between breastfed children and formula fed children?

Kate: What are the differences between breastfed children and formula fed children?
I was not breastfed as a child, and I have a higher IQ than most of the kids in my sixth grade class. I am in all advanced classes that there are and I am a very logical thinker. Would my IQ have been higher if I was breastfed? What are the differences between breastfed and nonbreastfed children.

Answers and Views:

Answer by Kelly
The only difference betwn breastfed and non-breastfed people are they always say if you breastfeed its healthier for the baby. Everyone’s IQ just varies from what they learn, how much they apply themselves, how much they let info sink into their brain. Everyone is just different. Some people are morons no matter if they were breastfed or not and some people are pure genius or at least pretty smart. It’s not based on what kind of milk they were drinking as a baby at all though…

Answer by qtmama
On average, breastfed babies have a slightly higher IQ than formula fed babies. Formula fed babies are sick more, have more alleriges, asthma, ear infections, respiratory infections, etc. than breastfed babies. Formula fed babies are more likely to be obese as children or adults, and formula fed babies may grow into be pickier eaters than breastfed babies. Breastfed babies tend to be more independent than formula fed babies as they grow older, because breastfed babies had their need for closeness and bonding met better at an early age. Premature babies who get breastmilk are more likely to survive and thrive than premature babies who get only formula. In some countries, diarrhea related to formula feeding is the leading cause of infant death.

With that said, of course there are going to be formula fed babies that are never sick and that are very smart (i was a formula fed baby and graduated college with a 4.0, however, I suffered from chronic ear infections for years!) and breastfed babies with allergies and asthma that are not smart.

BUT on average, according to tons of research, breastfed babies are at an advantage compared to formula fed.