Healthy Advantages of Breast-feeding Your Baby

Because the nutrients in breast milk are easily digested and ideally suited to a baby's needs, breast milk alone can provide every nutrient a baby needs for the first six months of life.

The American Pediatric Society recommends breast-feeding for infants because of the advantages breast-feeding offers both mother and baby. Because the nutrients in breast milk are easily digested and ideally suited to a baby's needs, breast milk alone can provide every nutrient a baby needs for the first six months of life. Usually, no vitamin or mineral supplements are needed, but sometimes doctors may prescribe vitamin D for some babies, and they may urge mothers to give their breast-fed babies fluoride supplements.

A rich source of nutrients

Besides getting the nutrients they need, nursing babies also get other health benefits. Nursing infants have fewer gastronomical illnesses, such as vomiting and diarrhea, and fewer respiratory illnesses, such as colds and infections. Breast-fed infants also have fewer allergic reactions than do babies fed with bottles.

The breast-fed infant is also less likely to become overweight than an infant who is bottle-fed. This might be because a nursing mother can't see the amount of milk her baby is taking, so she doesn't force the baby to take every last drop of milk as mothers who bottle-feed sometimes do.

An advantage for mothers too

Another advantage of breast-feeding is that nursing mothers don't have to buy, prepare and sterilize bottles and formula. Breast-feeding also helps new mothers return to their pre-pregnancy weights because of the extra calories needed for milk production .

Nursing mothers also report that the time spent breast-feeding their babies is a special time for mother and baby. This closeness is another advantage of breast-feeding.

Breast-feeding gives babies a good start on life. It can be a wonderful experience for mother and baby.

For more information on the advantages of breastfeeding, contact your local county Extension office.