I agree with you Patricia that lack of breastfeeding, has contributed to the rise in childrens asthma and wish that we had the studies to prove it. I am basing this on observations in my own family. 3 out of 4 of my siblings had asthma as children. My older sister did not. (Are first borns mostly healthier than later children, just wondering..? ) We were raised in the NW of England where the climate is wet and rainy. My own 4 were all breastfed for more than a year and I have one child with mild asthma which began at about age 15. She was my colicky baby. I understand that there is a relationship sometimes between infant colic and allergies (correct me if I'm wrong) Anyway my husband and I both came from families with histories of allergies and I know that breastfeeding helped my children ! I am still very grateful to LLL Leaders who helped me stick with it(24 y ago) after I was told with my first baby that my nipples were no good for breastfeeding and that I had no milk.! Ahh the good old days. Ruth Bacon Thornhill Ontario