Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections for a combination of reasons:

1. The antibodies in breastmilk line the mucosa of the respiratory tract and
prevent invasion and multiplication of possibly infectious bacteria, and
viruses. Cultures of the throats and noses of babies who are breastfed show
fewer cultures of non typable H. Influenza, probably still the most common
bacterial cause of ear infections, along with pneumococci, which are also
less found in the nasopharynx of the breastfed baby. Breastmilk fed babies
who have cleft palates, have fewer infections than formula fed babies who
have cleft palates, which suggests it is not just the bottle.

2. The positioning of the baby may have an influence, which is different in
breastfed babies.

3. Breastfeeding mothers have more confidence in themselves and surer of
their babies. They take their babies to doctors less, I would bet. Don't
take a baby to the doctor for a cold or fever, and you don't get a diagnosis
of ear infection. (Being cynical again, but a lot of ear infections are
actually *some* physicians' way of not having to explain why the child's
problem is a viral infection which will probably get better all on it's
own).

Jack Newman, MD, FRCPC