breastfeeding and palate development

[Guest guest]

Barb,

Thanks for the posting that information on the formation of the palate and the

head shape. Do you have any references or links on this that I could write down

or bookmark? I'd really like to have this information documented for

dissemenation to others.

I also wonder if anyone knows somone who does cranio-sacral therapy? My

understanding is that this type of chiropractic focuses on aligning the bones in

the head. I wonder if a practioner could tell the difference between someone who

was breastfed " long-term " ie not weaned or encouraged to wean before 2 years of

age, and someone who wasn't breastfed at all.

Sally,

Here's a quote from " The Womanly Art of Breastfeeding " Sixth revised edition

p.358 (you can look up the names of the studies on p. 450 if you want to look up

and analyse the actual information,)

" Researchers from Hopkins School of Public Health reported on a study of

nearly 10,000 children in which they found that the longer the duration of

breastfeeding, the lower the incidence of malocclusion. Children who were

breastfed for a year or more required 40% less orthodontia than those who were

bottle-fed. "

IMO 40% is significant!

Also, while there may be some benefit from sucking on bottles and thumbs as

opposed to nothing at all, breast is best. The way in which a baby sucks at the

breast and the muscles that are used are completely different from the way a

baby sucks a bottle (even with a so called orthodontic nipple) or a thumb.

Facial development IS affected and some studies have found that speech is too.

Love in Christ,

Alison