According to John Hopkins Medicine, breast milk is the perfect food for your baby since it is gentle on your baby’s developing stomach, intestines, and other body systems.
Only breastfeeding for at least the first 6 months of life is best for your baby. This is called “exclusive” breastfeeding. Breastmilk can be expressed and fed to your baby in a bottle, as needed.’
You should not give your baby water, sugar water, formula, or solids during his or her first 6 months. The only exception to this is when your baby’s healthcare provider tells you to.
Benefits of Breast Milk
- Compared to alternative sources for baby’s milk, the nutrients in breastmilk are better absorbed and used by your baby. These include sugar (carbohydrate) and protein.
- Breastmilk has the nutrients that are best for your baby’s brain growth and nervous system development. Studies of breastfed babies have found that they do better on intelligence tests when they grow older (Isaacs et al., 2011).
- A breastfed baby’s eyes also work better. This is mostly because of certain types of fat in breastmilk.
Preventing Infections
- Breast milk has many disease-fighting factors. They help prevent mild to severe infections and hospitalization.
- Breastfed babies have far fewer digestive, lung, and ear infections.
- Babies born early (premature) who are breastfed are also less likely to get a serious infection of the intestines called NEC (necrotizing enterocolitis).
- If your baby gets an infection when breastfeeding, the infection is likely to be less severe.
Preventing Other Conditions
- A lower risk for SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome) than babies who are not breastfed.
- A lower risk of getting asthma and skin problems related to allergies. Formula-fed babies are more likely to have milk allergies.
- Less diarrhea and a lowered chance of getting some digestive conditions. Formula can actually change healthy bacteria in a baby’s intestines. The bacteria help with digestion and fighting disease.
- A lower risk of developing leukemia.
- Fewer long-term health problems as they grow up. These include diabetes and obesity.
Who Should Not Exclusively Breastfeed?
- Your baby has certain health problems. Breastmilk only is usually recommended, but you may need to add formula or other liquids. For example, your baby may need this if he or she has low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), or loss of body fluids (dehydration).
- You have or have had certain health problems. There are few reasons why you should not breastfeed your baby. Some infections can be passed through your breastmilk. Also, women taking certain medicines or using drugs or alcohol should not breastfeed.