Is Breastfeeding Better for Your Baby?

When you have a baby, everything changes.  Every decision you make starts to revolve around providing the best possible care for your little one.  One question that many new parents have is whether or not there are health benefits to breastfeeding.  Today, we will look at just how breastfeeding can improve the health of your children.

There is no doubt that breastfeeding offers positive benefits to your child’s health.  In fact, the number of benefits is quite surprising.  Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of developing many conditions, including type 1 and 2 diabetes, childhood leukemia, SIDS, and asthma.  Breastfeeding also helps to reduce the risk of lower respiratory tract diseases and gastrointestinal infections.  Middle ear infection rates and eczema rates are also much lower.

Of course, this isn’t all cut and dry.  In many cases, babies must be exclusively breastfed for the first six months of their lives in order for these health benefits to be achieved.

It is also important to point out that not all mothers are able to breastfeed or use a breast pump, but if this is the case then that does not mean that your baby will be unhealthy.  When it is a viable option, breastfeeding is certainly best, but when breastfeeding presents health issues for you or means that you cannot take medications that you need, it is certainly more than okay to offer baby formula.

Remember that although you may feel a strong natural drive to always put baby first, your health and your baby’s health are both equally important.  Breastfeeding offers many benefits, but considering what it means for you can be equally important when you are deciding if it is the right choice for you and your child.