Breast feeding vs Bottle feeding

The AAP advises that mom’s breastfeed their babies for at least 12 months, or longer depending on whether mom and baby are eager.

The decision on breast vs bottle feeding “breastfeeding vs formula” is a very personal one, whether you decide to breastfeed or bottle feed you should not feel pressured to do either.

Things to consider when deciding on breastfeeding vs bottlefeeding

- Your personal comfort level

- Your lifestyle ( How busy you are )

- Medical considerations of you and baby

Breast feeding vs bottle feeding ~ Pros and cons of breastfeeding

The advantages of breastfeeding “breast milk advantages”

- A great advantage of breast feeding is that breast milk fights against infections, reducing the incidences of diarrhea, ear infections and meningitis.

- Breast milk changes in nutrition, fats and quantities to fit with babies needs as he grows.

- The advantages of breast milk include protection against asthma, diabetes, obesity, allergies and SIDS “sudden infant death syndrome”

- Breast milk is easier to digest compared to formula, making it the perfect food for baby’s immature digestive system. This is why breastfed babies have been found to have less constipation and diarrhea than formula fed babies.

- Breast milk is completely free, while formula becomes more expensive each month. Babies who breastfeed have been found to go to the doctor less than formula fed babies and this then saves mom and dad more money too.

- Babies are introduced to different flavors and tastes of food through moms breast milk…making a child more likely to want to try these foods later in life.

- One of the best breastfeeding advantages ~ Breast milk is convenient and always available. No warming of bottles or washing of dishes afterward.

- Studies show that formula fed babies have a lower IQ than breastfed ones.

- Skin on skin contact between mom and baby during breastfeeding helps enhance bonding.

- Breastfeeding can help mom lose her postpartum weight much faster.

- Breastfeeding can prevent all sorts of diseases and even cancer in mom later in life.

- The other advantages of breast feeding for mom, baby and the environment

- Read the benefits of colostrum

Breast feeding vs bottle feeding ~ Breastfeeding challenges

- Babies who are breastfed should be given a Vitamin D supplement… read more on Vitamin D and breastfeeding.

- Some moms don’t feel comfortable breastfeeding in public. Read more on breastfeeding in public here.

- Breastfeeding can get really challenging at times especially in the beginning with engorgement, sore nipples and even thrush or mastitis, especially if mom is inexperienced at breastfeeding. Mom will need loads and loads of patience and perseverance…although some moms find it as easy as pie…it all depends on the personal circumstances.

- Moms may feel inadequate and may give up on breastfeeding due to a lack of knowledge. If this is you please first read though our Sitemap …maybe we can answer your specific breastfeeding question.

- Breastfeeding can become tiring as baby is totally dependent on mom for everything. Sometimes moms can start to feel overwhelmed, especially if baby breastfeeds right through the night too.

- Women who breastfeed need to be careful about what they eat, especially if their babies have allergies. Alcohol, coffee and other caffeinated foods need to be avoided or kept at very small quantities as they can pass through the breast milk.

Breast feeding vs bottle feeding ~ Bottle feeding advantages and disadvantages

- Formula already contains the added vitamin D that breastfed babies need.

- Other family members get a chance to feed baby (although this is also possible if mom is breastfeeding and pumping her breast milk)

- Another one of the benefits of bottle feeding is that mom doesn’t need to worry about breastfeeding in public.

- Formula digests slower than breast milk and therefore it keeps a baby fuller longer…sometimes giving them a longer stretch of sleep at night too.

- Women who formula feed don’t need to worry about what they eat or drink.

- Easy monitoring of how much baby is drinking

- More flexibility and freedom for mom

- No interference with love making or fertility returning.

Disadvantages of Formula feeding

- It’s expensive, especially if baby has special needs (soy or hypoallergenic formulas)

- It requires a lot of preparation and cleaning afterwards.

- Formula contains no antibodies meaning that it cannot protect baby against infection, allergies and illness.

- Formula fed babies are more likely to have colic symptoms and constipation due to the formula being too difficult to digest.

-    Combination feeding “breast milk and formula”

-    Support for moms that are unable to breastfeed

-    Pumping exclusively “bottle feeding breast milk”

-    Breastfeeding a preemie

-    Dealing with criticism

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