Sharing an Article
I want to share this article: “Babies’ Immune Systems May Stand Down to Let Good Microbes Grow.”
Breastfeeding keeps babies more shielded from getting sick because of things like antibodies being passed from the mother to the baby. However, that doesn’t shield the baby from everything, and babies will certainly get sick a lot in the early years despite this boost. Breastfeeding has many benefits, to you and to your child, if it’s something you can do.
Even when their immune systems are more capable of defending the body, though, the immune system may intentionally be letting some stuff in. This is because it wants the “good” microbes to come in, which can’t happen if the immune system fights off everything. This intelligent immune system is intriguing. Good bacteria has started to be appreciated in recent years, but there’s still a lot we can, and hopefully will, learn.
Sources and Additional Reading:
- Bonyata, Kelly. “My baby is sick — should I continue to breastfeed?”1 August 2011.
- “Breastfeeding.” Office of Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. 5 April 2013.
- “Breastfeeding Benefits Your Baby’s Immune System.” American Academy of Pediatrics. 11 May 2013.
- “Can Breastfeeding Prevent Illnesses?” La Leche League International. 23 May 2012.
- “Myths and Facts about Breastfeeding.” State of New Jersey Department of Health. 2014.
- Stein, Rob. “Babies’ Immune Systems May Stand Down to Let Good Microbes Grow.” NPR. 6 November 2013.
