One of the greatest reassurances a mother has when choosing to breastfeed is the number of benefits of breastfeeding for baby. Breastfeeding your baby is not only natural, it is designed by nature to be the best source of nutrition for your baby. Mothers can confidently feed their babies breast milk and know that it is benefiting both of them in a multitude of ways. Let’s take a look at a few of the benefits of breastfeeding.
Breastfeeding 101: Five Great Benefits For Baby
- Breast milk is the perfect nutrition for babies. Breast milk is the perfect combination of protein, healthy fats, and calories for a growing infant. Breast milk is 100 percent organic, chocked full of vital nutrients, and easily digested by the tiniest of tummies. There isn’t a formula on the market that can duplicate the nutritional makeup of breast milk.
- Breast milk boosts baby’s immune system. One of the most exciting things that breast milk does is boost baby’s immune system. Mother’s milk contains antibodies that help infants to fight off harmful viruses and bacteria. When mothers come into contact with harmful germs, their bodies begin producing antibodies that are specific to the harmful germs to which mother and baby have been exposed. This is particularly helpful when babies are very young, as their immune systems are immature and less able to stave off disease than the immune systems of older children and adults.
- Breastfeeding improves the overall health of the child. Breastfed infants are sick less often than formula fed infants. In addition to having fewer throat, ear, and sinus infections, breastfed babies are also less likely to have bouts of diarrhea and other respiratory illnesses. GER, or gastroesophageal reflux, is also less common in breastfed babies, as the easy to digest milk allows the breastfed infant’s tiny tummy to empty quicker and, as a result, is less likely to be regurgitated.
- Breastfed babies are at a decreased risk for childhood obesity. By now, most people are aware that obesity is unhealthy. One way to help combat obesity from birth is to breastfeed. Breastfed infants tend to gain the right amount of weight as they grow, rather than packing on extra pounds. Studies have shown this to carry on into childhood, not just infancy.
- Breastfeeding has been linked to the prevention of SIDS. The American Academy of Pediatrics states that breastfeeding is shown to reduce the risk of SIDS. Breastfeeding is now a part of the AAP’s education to parents on SIDS prevention as a way to lower a baby’s risk of sudden infant death.
[…] It has been an absolutely unmeasurable gift to be able to nourish and nurture each of my children for years at almost no financial cost to our family. We have been able to save and invest and become more financially stable even while welcoming little one after little one into our home. We’ve probably saved on bills for doctor’s visits because breastmilk helped our kids stay healthy. […]