Bottles, Pacifiers & Sippy Cups Pose Risks For Toddlers

TIME Cover Photo Calculated Or Misguided?

“Good Start” Not Good For Breastfeeding

Does Breastfeeding Reduce The Risk Of Ear Infection?

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by Amy Spangler
September 28, 2009

A friend’s child (formula-fed) seems to always have an ear infection. Does breastfeeding protect against ear infections?

more Q&A

How Do I Breastfeed A Teething Baby?

What Are Foremilk & Hindmilk?

Got Breast Milk?

Breastfeeding is such an effective strategy for preventing ear infection, the Canadian Paediatric Society (CPS) in its newly revised policy statement lists exclusive breastfeeding until at least 3 months of age as one of the six things parents can do to reduce their child’s risk for ear infection.

Other recommendations include:

following simple hygiene practices such as washing hands after handling used tissues
limiting the use of pacifiers
avoiding childcare settings
encouraging childcare workers to exercise good hygiene by routinely washing hands and cleaning toys
not smoking

Research shows that formula-fed babies have twice as many ear infections as breastfed babies—a statistic that becomes even more significant when you consider that ear infection is one of the most common childhood illnesses, with 75 percent of children having at least one ear infection by 1 year of age.