Breastfeeding is difficult at first - I speak from experience on that one - but I do not agree that "not too many babies take to it". While both mums and babes can have difficulties learning how to breastfeed properly, it's very rare for a baby to honest-to-goodness "not take to it", and typically involves babies with other developmental problems.
Breastfeeding is natural for babies and it is important not only for their physical development, but also for their emotional development. I'm not (not, not, not) saying that formula-fed babies will have something wrong with them or won't love their mums - just that breastfeeding provides benefits that bottle-feeding cannot.
The main reason that breastfeeding is difficult for mums is that they have very little support in today's culture. One hundred years ago women lived near their families and had the support of their mums, aunts, sisters, etc as they learned to breastfeed - and many women nursed the babies of others as well, whether they be the babies of relatives or "employers" (as a wet nurse).
Today we don't have much support, so breastfeeding can be very difficult and frustrating. I spent a good month in agonizing pain with my first child, but I kept at it because it was important to me. . .I utilized all the resources I could find and eventually it worked. Not everyone has the determination that I did regarding breastfeeding and, frankly, our society makes it very easy to simply reach for the can of formula.
Cloth nappies do involve "effort", but it's been effort that I've been able to deal with just fine with both of my kids - including an overlapping period where they were both in cloth diapers. It's really not that big a deal, and I much prefer the effort that I expend to the thought of throwing some 6,000 balls of plastic, pee, chemicals, and crap into the landfill (or ocean). Again, society has made it easy to choose something convenient - but that doesn't mean it's good for the baby (or the world, for that matter). You can visit http://www.thediaperhyena.com/diaper_drama.htm to get a good idea of the benefits of cloth - be sure to read through each of the four (?) "scenes".
Expat Sueño
P.S. I do use disposables at nursery and occasionally at home or when we're going out - it's not like I never ever use them, but cloth are definitely preferred in this home :)
Breastfeeding is difficult at first - I speak from experience on that one - but I do not agree that "not too many babies take to it". While both mums and babes can have difficulties learning how to breastfeed properly, it's very rare for a baby to honest-to-goodness "not take to it", and typically involves babies with other developmental problems.
Breastfeeding is natural for babies and it is important not only for their physical development, but also for their emotional development. I'm not (not, not, not) saying that formula-fed babies will have something wrong with them or won't love their mums - just that breastfeeding provides benefits that bottle-feeding cannot.
The main reason that breastfeeding is difficult for mums is that they have very little support in today's culture. One hundred years ago women lived near their families and had the support of their mums, aunts, sisters, etc as they learned to breastfeed - and many women nursed the babies of others as well, whether they be the babies of relatives or "employers" (as a wet nurse).
Today we don't have much support, so breastfeeding can be very difficult and frustrating. I spent a good month in agonizing pain with my first child, but I kept at it because it was important to me. . .I utilized all the resources I could find and eventually it worked. Not everyone has the determination that I did regarding breastfeeding and, frankly, our society makes it very easy to simply reach for the can of formula.
Cloth nappies do involve "effort", but it's been effort that I've been able to deal with just fine with both of my kids - including an overlapping period where they were both in cloth diapers. It's really not that big a deal, and I much prefer the effort that I expend to the thought of throwing some 6,000 balls of plastic, pee, chemicals, and crap into the landfill (or ocean). Again, society has made it easy to choose something convenient - but that doesn't mean it's good for the baby (or the world, for that matter). You can visit http://www.thediaperhyena.com/diaper_drama.htm to get a good idea of the benefits of cloth - be sure to read through each of the four (?) "scenes".
Expat Sueño
P.S. I do use disposables at nursery and occasionally at home or when we're going out - it's not like I never ever use them, but cloth are definitely preferred in this home :)