Breastfeeding Versus Formula: Which Is Best For Your Baby?
Deciding between breastfeeding or bottle-feeding is a personal decision many new parents face when they are about to bring new life into the world. It is one of the first significant parenting decisions a new mom will make, and knowing all the facts about both options can greatly help with making this important choice. Both breastfeeding and bottle-feeding have positive and negative aspects, especially with parents 'mommy-shaming' mothers who choose bottle-fed formula over breast milk. Learn more now about the positive and negative aspects of breastfeeding and bottle-feeding, the right time to wean a baby, and which is considered best based on this criteria. There is no right or wrong choice, just the healthiest choice for both mother and child!
Why Breast Is Best
Trusted health organizations such as The World Health Organization (WHO), The American Academy Of Pediatrics (AAP), and The American Medical Association (AMA), all recommend breast milk as the best food source for nourishing newborns and infants. According to the AAP, infants should be breastfed exclusively for the first four to six months of their life, and a combination of breastfeeding with solid foods until the age of one. Breastfeeding is highly beneficial for both the mother and baby's health, as there are numerous benefits associated with breastmilk and the physical act of breastfeeding itself. One of the primary benefits is it allows mother and child to bond emotionally due to the intimate act of nourishing the child through their body, similar to when the infant was in utero.
Breast Is Best Continued
The various benefits of breastfeeding include it is always available, it's free, there is no prep work involved, it contains active infection-fighting white blood cells and natural chemicals that increase the protection against infections in the first months of life, and it can help prevent sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Other benefits of breast milk include that it contains the right amount of nutrients the baby needs to grow and thrive including protein, carbohydrates, fat, and calcium, it is easily digestible, it may protect the infant from developing allergies and asthma in the future.
Breast milk may also decrease the child's risk of obesity, it contains fatty acids that promote brain development, and breastfeeding can help new moms lose weight more effectively. Breast milk also promotes a healthy digestive system and reduces the risk of the baby having diarrhea and an upset stomach; strengthens the baby's immune system and protects against ear infections, pneumonia, bacterial and viral infections which is vital in the first few months of life; and it might boost the child's IQ compared to formula-fed babies. In addition to helping new moms lose weight, breastfeeding reduces a woman's risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, heart disease, and diabetes.
Still curious about breastfeeding? Keep reading to discover some of the negative effects of breastfeeding for both mother and child.
