I wrote the following to misc.kids & misc.kids.pregnancey, and received a (quite hostile) response demanding references. I don't have them all in one place, but scattered throughout many notes and articles. Does anyone have supporting medical journal references for the points that I have made? Here is my post: What concerns me about this thread is a lack of discussion and understanding of the implications for a child, and for society, of treating breastfeeding as though it were merely a lifestyle choice. Formula has very substantial health risks that most parents are simply unaware of because of massive advertising and public relations efforts by the formula companies. Formula fed babies are, on average, 10 IQ points dumber than breastfed babies from the same socio-economic background (which is equivalent to the neurological damage from exposure to lead), have greatly multiplied risks of respiratory and gastrointestinal infections, childhood leukemias, juvenile diabetes, adult diseases such as Crohn's and colitis, as well as allergies. Clearly, formula impairs the development of the immune and neurological systems in infants. Giving you this information is not designed to induce GUILT, if you have chosen to formula-feed, but to induce ANGER at the formula companies, doctors, parenting magazines, etc., if you made that choice without having this information. There is a lot of talk about being "incapable" of breastfeeding, but 99% or more of mothers are physiologically capable of breastfeeding. Almost all failure at breastfeeding comes from cultural factors, most especially from ignorance on the part of the medical establishment about how to address breastfeeding difficulties. I would just urge every woman who is pregnant to get as much information as possible about breastfeeding in advance of birth, including the telephone number of her local La Leche League leader [call (800) LA LECHE for that info, if it's not in your white pages], and the telephone number of a certified lactation consultant. Here is an excerpt from the response I got: Without references to support your numerous allegations, your post reeks of inflammatory hand waving. I invite you to post references for the statments you made. As to your allegation that formula fed babies are "10 IQ points dumber" than breast fed babies, any scale intended to measure "IQ" is almost entirely subjective, surely you know that. You make reference to an equivalency of exposure to lead. How much exposure to lead? Exposure by ingestion, or by aspiration? For what time period? Please post some facts along with your dogma next time. It might lend you some credence.