The Mother's Way

As a parent you want the very best for your baby. It is often troubling to think of the multitude of products on the market that cater to you and your child. One thing you have probably struggled with is the choice between formula feeding and breast feeding. There is a long standing debate about which is better for your child’s health and there are great points about each. In the end it is your personal choice, but finding all of the pertinent information about the topic can help.

There is a saying that “breast is best” in the breast feeding community. People involved closely in this debate say that mother’s milk is not only the most natural, but is the most beneficial to the child. Breast milk is often called the most optimal in nutrition for babies. Anti-bodies found in breast milk transfer to the child when breast feeding and provide your baby with natural defenses against many diseases and infections such as meningitis and ear infections. It also protects children against allergies, asthma and diabetes. In addition, some experts say that breast feeding aids in natural digestion for babies and can eliminate gas, diarrhea and constipation. As a whole, children that are fed with formula have more digestion disruption than those that are breast fed. Another benefit of breast feeding is the fact that it is free. Formula feeding can be very expensive. Many proponents of breast feeding state this as one of the most beneficial things about the topic. Breast feeding is also convenient. You do not need bottles. Also, there is no mixing required and no cleaning up afterward. Some breast feeding advocates also state skin to skin contact as a key benefit.

Of course, some women are unable to breast feed because of health reasons or birthing complications. Even without these limitations, some women choose formula feeding for many reasons. New developments in formula manufacturing have made formula feeding nutrition closer to that of breast milk. This reduces the concern over the lack of nutrition in formula. In addition, when leaving baby with a care taker, there is no need for breast milk pumping and storage. Anyone can feed a formula fed baby. This is sometimes easier for mothers that choose formula feeding. Sharing feeding duties can eliminate the stress of midnight feedings. Some moms state that this aids in their birth recovery. Another advantage of formula feeding is the time and frequency of feedings. Formula digests slower than breast milk, making for less feedings and more free time for mom or another care taker. An even popular benefit to formula feeding is the fact that mom can now resume her pre-baby diet. There is no need to watch what she eats; meaning that cup of coffee in the morning can make its debut in her routine again.

The disadvantages of both breast feeding and formula feeding are concerning, also. Some mothers state breast feeding can be tiresome and time consuming. Breast fed babies feed more often. Also, there is a need for a pricey breast pump if mom is returning to work and leaving baby with a care taker. In addition, there can be discomfort for mom from a teething baby. Formula feeding can cause digestion problems, does not contain the anti-bodies of mother’s milk and can be expensive. Despite these, women all over the world make the choice between breast feeding and formula feeding each day. In the end, it is a very personal and important choice. Only you can make the decision for your child and you should always feel you have chosen best.

This entry was posted on Friday, April 18th, 2008 at 10:34 am and is filed under Helpful Baby Care Tips. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.