Breastfeeding Vs. Formula Feeding

Breast feeding is when mothers feed infants with breast milk by either allowing them to suck the milk instantly from them or the expelling the milk to be used by those taking care of them. Formula feeding is giving a baby food other than breast milk mostly referred to as formula milk which supplements breast milk in cases where the mother is unable to breastfeed.

Formula feeding is done mainly due to medical conditions like if the mother fears passing a certain disease to their kids through breastfeeding. It can take place in cases where the mother is not physically there to breastfeed their babies.

Advantages of breastfeeding over formula feeding

Breast milk is natural and that makes it a nearly perfect nutrition for infants. It has natural antibodies that boost the immunity of a child. Breast milk is easily digested and absorbed by infants since it is not gassy compared to formula milk which some infants find hard to digest. The amount of nutrients in breast milk is perfectly balanced with the age of the child therefore the mother provides the infant with appropriate amount of nutrients required at each stage. This is better for the child compared to formula milk where the doctor determines the amount of nutrients in the milk and may not be exact with the right measurements. Breast milk improves the intelligence of a child as he grows and reduces the chances of the child diseases like leukemia and asthma at a later age in their lives.

A strong bond between mother and child is developed through breastfeeding. This is not the case in formula feeding where there is no direct contact and anybody can feed the child.

Formula feeding positives

Formula milk can have vitamin D which is not found in breast milk and is helpful in development of the baby’s skin especially dark skins. Formula feeding brings certainty on how much of each nutrient the baby gets. This hence makes adjustment to the nutrients as the child grows easier compared to breast milk where the mother is not certain about the amount of milk as it just flows freely. Formula feeding allows bonding with other family members who matter to the child. It does not require privacy when feeding or nursing the infant. Although the decision to either breastfeed or to formula feed is a personal choice by many doctors recommend breastfeeding is the best for each infant.

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