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Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding
Part 1 The Summery Breastfeeding
Choosing how and what to feed your baby is a personal decision that deserves careful and thorough consideration of the facts, your opinions, and options.
Feeding your baby breast-milk or bottled formula are both healthy and responsible decisions, each with advantages and disadvantages.
How and what to feed your baby is a decision that should “fit” you, your baby, and your family.
Choosing how and what to feed your baby is a personal decision that deserves careful and thorough consideration of the facts, your opinions, and options.
Feeding your baby breast-milk or bottled formula are both healthy and responsible decisions, each with advantages and disadvantages. How and what to feed your baby is a decision that should “fit” you, your baby, and your family.
Breastfeeding is the natural nutritional source for infants less than one year of age.
Most healthcare professionals recommend breastfeeding for your baby’s first year (including the American Academy of Pediatricians and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners). Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the first six months of life. It contains appropriate amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and provides digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that infants require. Breast milk also contains antibodies from the mother that can help the baby resist infections. Experts agree that breastfeeding your baby for any length of time, regardless of how short, is of benefit to you and your baby. You can provide your baby with breast milk by either breastfeeding or by feeding your baby breast milk from a bottle. Breastfeeding your baby (directly from the breast): Most healthcare professionals advise using only one method (breastfeeding or feeding breast milk by bottle) for at least the first two months of life. This recommendation is based on the possibility of nipple confusion, which can cause sucking and feeding problems for infants who are switched between breastfeeding and bottle-feeding. After two months of age, most babies adapt to bottle nipples easily. Breastfeeding is a natural function but is not necessarily a natural instinct for mothers. Most mothers need education during pregnancy to make informed choices about how and what to feed their babies. Mothers also need support, encouragement, and assistance after birth to establish, maintain, and enjoy feeding and caring for their babies. Advantages Of Breastfeeding = Research indicates that breastfed babies may have less frequent: In addition, research indicates that breastfed babies may have less risk of becoming overweight, developing high blood pressure, and developing tooth decay. Moms who breastfeed their babies should: Understand that ANY medications you take may enter the breast milk and affect your baby (check with your physician or lactation consultant about which are safe) Disadvantages of Breastfeeding 
2 Responses to “Breastfeeding vs. Bottle Feeding”
Comments
March 3rd, 2009 at 6:31 am
Will you be doing a post on the disadvantages of bottle feeding?
Also, you can add to the advantages of breastfeeding - better health for mother (reduction of risk of breast cancer) and greater convenience. To the advantages for baby, you can add that research shows that breastfed babies are less likely to be abused and likely to have a higher IQ. Also, breastfeeding is environmentally friendly, and free! The World Health Organisation recommends it exclusively for six months and then for another 18 months or beyond.
March 7th, 2009 at 10:44 am
Hi If you look back through the archives you will see articles on some of the subjects you mention