Should You Bottle-Feed or Breastfeed Your Baby - Why Breastfeeding is Important

Are you considering whether you should bottle-feed or breastfeed your baby? Are you unsure of what you should really be doing? If you are one of those Moms who can breast-feed but are considering bottle-feeding instead, then you should perhaps read on and get to know the full benefits of breastfeeding and why it really should be your preferred method of providing nutrition for your baby. Here are some of the benefits of breastfeeding.

BENEFITS OF BREAST FEEDING:

The Immunity Factor: No formula contains substances (antibodies, active enzymes, etc) that occur naturally in breast milk. These help protect babies from illnesses by boosting their immunity. Nothing compares to the natural protection offered by breast milk.

Nutrition Value: Breast milk has been custom made by nature to provide all the nutrients necessary for development of babies in the first few months of life. One thing that breast milk is deficient in is vitamin D and hence you would need to consult your pediatrician as to the sunlight exposure your baby needs.

Continued Good Health: Studies have shown that breast-fed infants are less likely to develop the following common infections/conditions, as compared to bottle-fed infants:

• Diarrhea.
• Bacterial meningitis.
• Lower respiratory tract infections and ear infections.
• A host of other things such as diabetes, allergic problems, SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome, etc.

Non-Allergic: Your baby won't be allergic to your breast milk. However, some babies do get sensitive to breast milk as a result of changes in the mother's diet. However, in and of itself, breast milk can never be allergic to the baby.

Mother-Baby Bonding: One of the most overlooked benefits of breastfeeding is the close skin-to-skin contact that it involves. This promotes bonding between the baby and mother and is not duplicated with bottle-feeding. Certainly, one of the most important pros of breastfeeding.

Ease of Digestion: Babies are able to digest breast milk easily compared to other substitutes.

The Cost Factor: Breast milk costs nothing -- its FREE -- stating the obvious of course!!!

Development of the Jaw in Babies: Sucking breast milk is thought to be much harder than sucking on a bottle and hence thought to result in good jaw and face development in babies, who breastfeed.

Positive Health Benefits for the Mom:

There are a lot of health benefits for Moms who breastfeed including but not limited to the following:

• Faster reduction of weight since production of milk burns calories.
• Much less bleeding post delivery.
• Helps the uterus get back to its pre-pregnancy shape faster.
• Thought to reduce the risk of breast cancer before menopause.
• Possible reduction in the risk for developing ovarian cancer.

The Convenience Factor:

Obviously, you don't have to buy bottles, formula, nipples, think of cleanliness, etc. Breast milk is sterile. Can anything artificial compare?

Breastfeeding is the best choice and is recommended by all health care experts. Artificial milk doesn't even come close when it comes to the health benefits that breast milk provides. Breast milk has been proven over centuries and is the most natural and safe method of providing all the essential nutrients that your baby would require, especially in the initial few months of life.

There are just so many benefits to breastfeeding that I am not sure I've covered them all. So, why bottle-feed if you can breast-feed? It would be such a loss to your baby and you to let go of this natural and beneficial way of providing complete nutrition to your baby.

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