101 Reasons to Breastfeed Your Baby

101 Reasons To Breastfeed Your Baby
Written by Leslie Burby© All rights reserved.

1. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it

2. Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby

3. Breastfeeding satisfies baby's emotional needs

4. Breast milk provides perfect infant nutrition

5. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of breast cancer

6. Formula feeding increases baby girls' risk of developing breast cancer in later life

7. Formula Feeding is associated with lower I.Q.

8. Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does

9. Breast milk helps pass meconium

10. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and aids in the development of baby's immune system.

11. Breast milk is more digestible than formula

12. Suckling helps shrink mother's uterus after childbirth

13. Suckling helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage

14. Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born

15. Pre-term milk is specially designed for premature infants

16. The World Health Organization and UNICEF recommend it

17. Breastfeeding protects against Crohn's disease (intestinal disorder)

18. Formula feeding increases risk of baby developing type I (juvenile, insulin-dependent) diabetes.

19. Breastfeeding decreases insulin requirements for breastfeeding mothers

20. Breastfeeding stabilizes progress of maternal endometriosis

21. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing ovarian cancer

22. Not breastfeeding increases mother's risk of developing endometrial cancer

23. Formula feeding increases chances of baby developing allergies

24. Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma

25. Formula feeding increases baby's risk of otitis media (ear infections)

26. Formula feeding may increase risk of sudden infant death syndrome (S.I.D.S.)

27. Breastfeeding protects baby against diarrheal infections

28. Breastfeeding protects baby against bacterial meningitis

29. Breastfeeding protects baby against respiratory infections

30. Formula fed babies have a higher risk of developing certain childhood lymphomas

31. Breastfeeding decreases chances of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis

32. Breastfeeding decreases child's chances of contracting Hodgkins disease

33. Breastfeeding protects baby against vision defects

34. Breastfeeding decreases chances of maternal osteoporosis in later life

35. Breast milk is an intestinal soother

36. Cows milk is an intestinal irritant

37. Formula-fed babies are more at risk for obesity in later life

38. Breastfed babies have less chance of cardiopulmonary distress while feeding

39. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing ulcerative colitis

40. Breast milk protects against hemophilus b. virus

41. Breastfed babies require shorter pre and post-surgical fasting

42. Breastfeeding results in less sick days for parents

43. Breastfeeding enhances vaccine effectiveness

44. Breastfed babies have less chance of developing necrotizing enterocolitis

45. Breastfeeding is a natural contraceptive

46. Breastfeeding is easier than using formula

47. Breast milk is free

48. Formula is expensive

49. Formula costs the government (and taxpayers) millions of dollars

50. Breast milk is always the right temperature

51. Breast milk always has the right proportions of fat, carbohydrates and protein

52. Breast milk acts like a natural tranquilizer for baby

53. Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom

54. Breast milk tastes better than formula

55. Breastfed babies are healthier over-all

56. Breastfed babies are less likely to die before their third birthday

57. Breastfed babies require fewer doctor visits

58. Breastfeeding mothers spend less time and money on doctor visits

59. Fewer waste packaging products

60. No bottles to tote

61. Less cow induced global greenhouse gasses

62. No need to refrigerate

63. Cows milk is designed for baby cows

64. Human milk is designed for baby humans

65. Natural pain relief for baby

66. Perfect food for sick baby

67. More sleep for mom

68. More sleep for baby

69. More sleep for dad

70. Less equipment to maintain and store

71. Less equipment to buy

72. Breast milk has never been recalled

73. Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria

74. No need to worry about which brand is better

75. No need to worry about adding contaminated water

76. Breastfeeding helps reduce cruelty to farm animals

77. Facilitates proper dental and jaw development

78. Breastfed babies get fewer cavities

79. Less money spent on corrective orthodontia

80. Better speech development

81. Less chance of baby getting eczema

82. Breastfed babies have great skin

83. Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)

84. Easier to clean spit-up stains

85. Breast milk contains no genetically engineered materials

86. Contains no synthetic growth hormones

87. Lack of breastfeeding associated with multiple sclerosis

88. Less chance of inguinal hernia

89. Better cognitive development

90. Better social development

91. Decreased risk of baby developing urinary tract infections

92. Suckling optimizes hand-to-eye coordination

93. Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)

94. Less money spent on menstrual supplies

95. Self confidence booster for mom

96. Breast milk is good for combatting eye infections

97. Breast milk is a good natural antibiotic for wounds

98. No worry about latest ingredient discovered to be missing from formula

99. Much nicer diaper changes

100. Breastfed babies smell fantastic

101. It's what breasts were designed for!


For the medical resources supporting these reasons to breastfeed your baby... please go to www.promom.org