There is no denying that breastfeeding is the ideal way to feed a child, however few people truly understand why it is so beneficial to both mother and baby. Millions of babies around the world thrive with breast milk as their sole means of nourishment. That is not to say that there is anything truly wrong with formula feeding, in fact, considering the leaps and bounds made in science and the composition of baby formula, the only true flaw is that the milk does not come from a human.

Baby formula is made with the milk of a cow rather than the milk of the mother. Cows milk does contain a protein that does not appear in human milk and can have some consequences on the child. The most evident effect of this protein is that it is difficult for babies to break down, and as a result formula fed children tend to be chubbier than their breast fed counterparts.

While it has been proven that most formulas contain everything a baby needs for nourishment, breast milk goes above and beyond the basic requirements. Breast milk has the ability to change in composition to deliver to the baby exactly what he needs. Breast milk varies on a daily basis and changes drastically between the first days of feeding and weaning. After a child is first born the body has not begun to actually produce milk. A newly born child simply can not digest it, so the body produces colostrums. As the child ages and is less dependent on breast milk for nutrition, the mother’s body will actually phase out whatever the child no longer needs. Human milk also has the benefit of passing on antibodies. Young children need these antibodies because their immune systems to do not fully develop until later in life, and they need all of the help they can get.

There are some measurable benefits that are seen by breastfed babies. These babies are less likely to develop allergies, diarrhea, rashes, ear infections, and have less need for hospital admittance than formula fed children. The antibodies passed from mother to child will also help protect from bronchitis, pneumonia, influenza, botulism, staphylococcal infections, ear infections and the meals.

Reasons to breastfeed include a myriad of topics that do not end with nutrition and health. Bonding is also an excellent reason to consider breastfeeding. The closeness and safety felt by the infant while nursing is far more intense than a bottle feeding experience.

When making the decision to breastfeed, the mother may experience some minor drawbacks. The first few experiences with breastfeeding can be slightly painful. Some women experience cracked and bleeding nipples, tenderness, and painfully engorged breasts. However, providing a child in the best way you can certainly outweighs the short lived minor discomforts.