breastfeeding benefit for baby

We live in a society in which bottle feeding is seen as the cultural norm.  Many mothers have been led to believe that feeding formula is "just as good" for their baby.  This information is flat out wrong.  The benefits of breastfeeding for baby deserve a serious look.

The most obvious benefits from breastfeeding to the baby come directly from breast milk itself.  No only does breast milk contain the exact nutritional requirements for your baby, it has numerous other positives as well, including:

* Boosts the immune system.  Most of the immunities a baby has comes from the mother’s breast milk.  Not only does the milk in general contain materials to help fight infection, it is actually tailored to what the mother is exposed to (i.e. what the baby is probably exposed to).  This means your child gets custom protection from the diseases they face.  Not only do breastfed babies get sick less often, they are also less likely to develop immune disorders or allergy related diseases, including asthma. Breastfed babies also experience fewer problems with vaccination.

* Helps proper physical development.  Breastfed babies tend to gain more weight than formula fed babies at the beginning, but that tapers off.  Studies have shown that breastfed babies are less likely to be obese. They're also less likely to be picky eaters, probably because the taste of breastmilk changes slightly depending on mom's diet.

* Helps proper mental development.  Breast milk helps to keep babies in a more alert state, which contributes to proper brain development. The healthy fats in breastmilk also boost brain development. This effect lasts on into adulthood.

While you may consider bottle feeding breast milk, you should be aware that the simple act of breast feeding also has benefits to your child, including:

* Increased bonding.  Being close and connected to your child makes them feel safer with you and bond to you more. The extra skin to skin contact is helpful for baby's emotional well being and yours, since baby's suckling stimulates hormones that help you deal with stress.

* Promotes good oral health.  Not only does breastfeeding prevent bottle tooth decay, it could also keep your child from having to wear braces in the future since breastfed babies tend to have healthier teeth and gums, and even better speech and jaw development.

* Improves hand eye coordination.  This is likely due to the fact that nursing Moms switch sides and positions regularly, but it also has to do with the fats and other nutrients in breastmilk that help support good eye health.

These are not all the benefits of breastfeeding to your baby, just a few!  And the more breastfeeding continues to be studied, no doubt more benefits will be found.