| Expectant mothers often fret over whether they | | | | could even save you money. It doesn't require |
| should breastfeed or rely on bottled formula for their | | | | pre-heating and is always available on tap. Breast-fed |
| baby's nutrition. Although whether or not to | | | | infants don't get sick as often as their bottle-fed |
| breastfeed is a parent's decision, it can not be denied | | | | counterparts. This results in great savings. Bottled |
| that breastfeeding has many advantages that bottle | | | | milk costs a lot. You could find yourself saving a few |
| feeding does not offer. It is recommended that | | | | thousand dollars a year in formula and medical |
| breastfeeding be the choice of nutrition for infants 0 | | | | expenses. This alone could be a great reason to |
| to 12 month old. | | | | choose breastfeeding instead of bottle feeding. |
| The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), the | | | | 3. Smarter Babies. Studies have shown that |
| American Medical Association (AMA), the American | | | | breast-fed babies have 5 to 10 more IQ points than |
| Dietetic Association (ADA), and the World Health | | | | those that are bottle-fed exclusively for the first six |
| Organization (WHO) all unanimously recommend | | | | months of their life. Not only are these children |
| breastfeeding and breast milk instead of bottle | | | | smarter, they are healthier to boot. This is due to the |
| feeding. Although there may be conditions that make | | | | completeness of the composition of breast milk |
| bottle feeding more attractive, sticking to natural | | | | resulting in earlier and better development of babies' |
| means is recommended when possible. | | | | brains. |
| For one, breast milk is the perfect form of nutrition | | | | 4. Less Prone to Obesity. Breast-fed children are |
| for newborns. This is because breast milk is naturally | | | | observed to be less prone to overeating and obesity. |
| meant to meet the needs of human offspring. It is | | | | The special formulation of breast milk allows for the |
| hard to find real challenges to the wisdom of nature. | | | | proper regulation of appetite and metabolism. |
| Commercial baby formula, while comprehensive and | | | | 5. Skin-to-skin contact. Children that are breast-fed |
| backed by the latest science has to offer, will lack | | | | have better emotional adjustment than those that |
| some of the benefits breast milk offers. | | | | are not. This is due to the healing wonders of touch. |
| The advantages of Breastfeeding: | | | | Babies are also better attached to their mothers as a |
| 1. Breast milk, aside from being a complete infant | | | | result. The intimacy of the activity also does wonder |
| nutrition, also contains antibodies that help children | | | | for the emotional health of both the mother and the |
| develop immunity against illnesses such as infections, | | | | child. |
| diarrhea, respiratory problems, and meningitis. | | | | 6. Breast milk is easier to digest and is less likely to |
| Bottle-fed children usually exhibit lower immunity | | | | cause constipation or diarrhea. The formula of breast |
| against these illnesses. Moreover, breast-fed children | | | | milk is also easier to digest, which usually means |
| are less prone to developing allergies. This is one of | | | | babies feed more. Breastfeeding mothers will have to |
| the strongest reasons against bottle feeding. | | | | be prepared to breast-feed every 3 hours or so. |
| Studies have shown that breast-fed infants are | | | | Although breast-feeding is still best for babies, baby |
| hospitalized less and are less sickly than their | | | | formulas have been successful in at least narrowing |
| bottle-fed counterparts. Breast-fed babies show | | | | the gap. However, breast-feeding is still the way to |
| lower incidences of ear infections, constipation, | | | | go for newborn infants up to one or two years, and |
| diarrhea, sudden infant death syndrome. | | | | should be the only choice unless the mother is |
| Breast milk is still being studied closely by scientists. | | | | suffering from any condition that prevents her from |
| Breast milk seems to contain substances that are yet | | | | doing so. Some mothers claim they do not produce |
| unidentified, and hard to produce. This leads the | | | | enough milk and this may be the case. However, |
| scientists to conclude that breast milk is indeed much | | | | consult with your doctor to see if anything can be |
| more complex than first thought. Although the FDA | | | | done to allow breast-feeding in the immediate future. |
| requires formula makers to include all the known | | | | Ultimately, choosing whether to breast-feed or |
| breast mil nutrients in their milk foods, formula | | | | bottle-feed is strictly the decision of the mother. It is |
| makers still have a long way - although ever | | | | recommended, however, that when possible mother's |
| improving - to go to effectively imitate breast milk. | | | | breast-feed their children instead. |
| 2. Breast milk is free and requires no preparation; it | | | | |