Human breast milk is remarkably sweet and light. Formula is pasty and bland. Which would you rather eat?
Breastfed babies are healthier over-all
Kaiser Permanente, one of the largest HMOs in the U.S. recently conducted internal research to determine the value of the company lactation support program. This research found that breastfed babies had many health advantages over formula-fed babies, including better over-all health. (Kaiser Permanente: Internal research to determine benefits of sponsoring an official lactation program)
No bottles to carry
Unless you're pumping and transporting the milk for later. Even then there are fewer bottles to deal with. No need to refrigerate
Of course, breast milk stays fresh because it's made on demand. Even pumped breast milk keeps for a long time outside of the fridge.
Natural pain relief for baby
Breast milk actually contains chemicals that suppress pain (endorphins). Aside from this, the comfort a baby derives from being held close and suckling is remarkable. Many a bruise or scrape has been soothed away almost instantly by a few moments of breast feeding. If you choose to have your child vaccinated, it is a good idea to breast feed immediately after he/she receives a vaccination. This soothes the hurt, as well as enhancing the vaccine's effectiveness.
Breast milk is the perfect food for sick baby
When a formula fed baby gets a gastrointestinal ailment they are usually put on an artificial electrolyte solution because formula is too hard for them to digest. Breast milk, however, is easily digested, and soothing to the intestines, so there is no need for artificial and expensive electrolyte solutions. If a baby gets a respiratory illness, formula may cause even more mucus. In contrast, breast milk contains antibodies to these ailments, as well as being highly digestible and not contributing to excess mucus formation.
More sleep for mum, baby and dad
Especially if she cosleeps, but even if she doesn't. No bottles to prepare and warm. Less time comforting a crying baby suffering from wind and allergies.
A baby that gets its night time needs met quickly is more likely to get right back to sleep than a baby who has to wait for a bottle while crying and swallowing air.
Even if dad helps with baby burping, nappy changing, and baby wearing, there are no bottles to deal with. Also, breastfed babies tend to need much less burping after the first few months.
Less equipment to buy
If you don't need or want to pump your milk, you will not need to purchase a single thing: your body has all the equipment built-in. Even if you do have to buy a pump and the basic bottle kit, the savings in cost of formula and additional medical attention make breast feeding financially well worth trying.
Breast milk has never been recalled
Formula has been, sometimes after causing injury or death. There were 22 "significant" recalls of formula including 7 potentially life threatening situations. Babbit, V, "FDA Recalls Baby Formula, 1998", Breast feeding.com, Inc.
Fresh breast milk is never contaminated with bacteria
In fact, it has antibacterial properties.
No need to worry about which brand is better
Each artificial breast milk formula is different from all its competitors, but none of them come close to duplicating the real thing. It can be very stressful for formula feeding mothers to try to determine which brand is the best of the lot. No matter which formula is used "it is increasingly apparent that infant formula can never duplicate human milk. Human milk contains living cells, hormones, active enzymes, immunoglobulins and compounds with unique structures that cannot be replicated in infant formula." (Quoted from FDA pediatric-nutrition researchers at Abbott Laboratories, writing in March, 1994 issue of Endocrine Regulations.)
No need to worry about adding contaminated water
Even in the U.K. our water can contain dangerous elements like arsenic, lead and aluminium. These contaminants can become concentrated if water is boiled to sterilize it before being added to formula.
Breast Feeding encourages proper dental and jaw development, with fewer fillings
"Suckling at the breast is good for a baby's tooth and jaw development. Babies at the breast have to use as much as 60 times more energy to get food than do those drinking from a bottle...As [the babies jaw] muscles are strenuously exercised in suckling, their constant pulling encourages the growth of well-formed jaws and straight, healthy teeth."
Breast milk contains bacteria fighting cells that may help kill the bacteria that cause tooth decay.
The Complete Book Of Breast feeding M.S. Eiger. MD, S. Wendkos Olds, Copyright 1972, 1987 Comstock, Inc., Workman Publishing Co., Inc., 708 Broadway, New York, NY 10003 "Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of breast feeding the lower the incidents of malocclusion." Labbok, M.H. "Does Breast feeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to the National Health Interview Survey" American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987 Loesche WJ, "Nutrition and dental decay in infants." Am J Clin Nutr 41; 423-435, 1985 Lucas, A, Cole T, "Is Breast Feeding a Likely Cause of Dental Caries in young Children?" Journal of American Dental Assoc., 1979; 98:21-23
Less gastrointestinal reflux (Spit-up)
Breastfed neonates demonstrate gastroesophageal reflux episodes of significantly shorter duration that formula fed neonates. Heacock, H.J. "Influence of Breast vs Formula Milk in Physiologic Gastroesophageal Reflux in Healthy Newborn Infants". Jour. Pediatr Gastroenterol Nutr, 1992 January; 14(1): 41-6
Better social development
The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottle fed ones and leads at the age of 12 months to significant advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities. Baumgartner, C.,"Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life". Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984
Self confidence booster for mum
There is nothing more amazing than looking at a plump six month old baby and knowing that the only nutrition this happy little creature has received has come from your own body.
Much nicer nappies
Breastfed baby poo smells mild and inoffensive, unlike the productions of a formula fed baby! Try changing a few formula fed babies if you are uncertain about wanting to try breast feeding!