Infants come into this world dependant upon their parents to make the best choices for them for nutrition and nourishment; there are two simple options: breastfeeding or formula. There are many outstanding benefits of breastfeeding such as fighting infections, nutrition, easy digestion, bonding, free of cost, and convenience that may help parents in making the optimal nutritional choice for their child. Formula feeding offers the basic nutrition, but some of the disadvantages of opting out of breastfeeding are preparation, lack of antibodies, expense, and no guaranteed freshness. “Parenting is all about making choices and weighing risks and benefits” (Palmer 5). Breastfeeding and formula feeding are the two options parents have for their infant, both of which provide the necessary components for proper growth and development for a child; however, through research, evidence shows breastfeeding offers many benefits that cannot be imitated by formula.
“Breastfeeding is as old school as you can get, and the current generation of mothers has re-embraced this empowering way to connect with their babies and nourish them in the most biologically optimal way” (Weston 1). This option of feeding conforms to the baby’s needs in such a way that it contains the perfect balance of nutrients. Breast milk is easily digested and provides all the vitamins and minerals a baby requires. When a mother breastfeeds antibodies, immunoglobulins, active enzymes, and hormones transfer immediately to the child preventing harmful conditions such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and meningitis and slowly build their immune system. Breastfeeding benefits premature babies in the future from allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome. As a result of breast milk, a child will never have an allergic reaction unless foods in the mother’s diet change. The cost of breast milk is free and convenient. Breast milk always holds the perfect temperature while being fresh and available at a moment’s notice. The infant receives different tastes from the mother’s milk depending on the variety of foods a mother has eaten. “The skin-to-skin contact involved in breastfeeding can enhance bonding between mother and baby” (Schroeder 1). Jaw development is improved when an infant sucks milk from the breast. “Breastfeeding is beneficial for the mother by producing a new found confidence in her ability to care for her baby along with other benefits such as shrinking of the uterus, quicker weight loss, and reducing the risk of premenopausal breast cancer and uterine and ovarian cancer” (Izenberg 3). Breast feeding is a wonderful choice many parents make when deciding how to feed their child.
Formula feeding is generally a decision made by choice or consequences. “Women who experience a delay in milk production frequently end up relying on bottle feeding to nourish their infants” (Zaife 13). The trouble with formula occurs when infants become allergic or may not be able to digest the formula properly. Bottle-feeding becomes costly when a parent has to purchase formula, bottles, and nipples. According to the American Medical Association, “During the first year of life, the cost of formula can run between $1,000 and $1,500” (Schroeder 2). The preparation of formula is time consuming when a parent’s main responsibility is to organize, clean, and prepare bottles for each infant’s feeding. Formula does not have a guaranteed freshness and can go bad at times. “Formula does not fully meet the nutritional and immunity needs of infants, leaving their immune systems flailing. An infant’s immune system has three aspects: its own immature, developing immune system; the small components of immunities that passes through the placenta during natural childbirth; and the most valuable, living portion that is passed on through mother’s milk on an ongoing basis. Remove any of these components and you take away a vital support structure” (Palmer 5). Formula has the possibility to cause gas or constipation in an infant’s body. Formula feeding has no comparison to the natural, producing milk of a mother.
“In the early 1970s, few American women nursed their babies. Formula was seen as the technological solution to the inconvenience of breastfeeding. Since then, as science repeatedly proved breast milk’s superiority, the rates have steadily increased-with significant regional variations” (Gebel 2). Parents are learning through extensive research over the course of many years that breastfeeding exhibits many characteristics that formula feeding cannot obtain. Research has found three quarters of women in America breastfeed. “Our society has sexualized breast and made women embarrassed to use them as our Creator intended. Women need more support, not less, to make the commitment to breast-feed” (Keller 20). When a woman is expecting, doctors forget to inform the benefits breastfeeding offers which at times increases the likelihood of choosing formula feeding for some women. Mothers need to be informed of both types of feeding in order to choose one that best suites the comfort level and lifestyle of individual parents. Breastfeeding in most cases can be the best decision for the mother and child. “We need people growing up who are well-balanced, giving, and able to answer the questions of the world as to how to go forward. They need the best start in life. Breastfeeding is a noble calling, and takes commitment. It doesn’t take money, just love” (McGreevy 9).
Each mother has a crucial decision concerning the method in which they will nourish their child. Each decision has benefits and disadvantages, but when each is considered closely there is no wrong choice. Both types of feeding provide infants with the daily nutrients to survive. Breastfeeding has been found to have greater benefits, but the choice depends upon what the parents find most helpful in their lives. “Neither style of feeding is indicative of anything solid except this: there is a baby, and it needs to eat” (Wolter 1).
“Breastfeeding is as old school as you can get, and the current generation of mothers has re-embraced this empowering way to connect with their babies and nourish them in the most biologically optimal way” (Weston 1). This option of feeding conforms to the baby’s needs in such a way that it contains the perfect balance of nutrients. Breast milk is easily digested and provides all the vitamins and minerals a baby requires. When a mother breastfeeds antibodies, immunoglobulins, active enzymes, and hormones transfer immediately to the child preventing harmful conditions such as ear infections, diarrhea, respiratory infections, and meningitis and slowly build their immune system. Breastfeeding benefits premature babies in the future from allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, and sudden infant death syndrome. As a result of breast milk, a child will never have an allergic reaction unless foods in the mother’s diet change. The cost of breast milk is free and convenient. Breast milk always holds the perfect temperature while being fresh and available at a moment’s notice. The infant receives different tastes from the mother’s milk depending on the variety of foods a mother has eaten. “The skin-to-skin contact involved in breastfeeding can enhance bonding between mother and baby” (Schroeder 1). Jaw development is improved when an infant sucks milk from the breast. “Breastfeeding is beneficial for the mother by producing a new found confidence in her ability to care for her baby along with other benefits such as shrinking of the uterus, quicker weight loss, and reducing the risk of premenopausal breast cancer and uterine and ovarian cancer” (Izenberg 3). Breast feeding is a wonderful choice many parents make when deciding how to feed their child.
Formula feeding is generally a decision made by choice or consequences. “Women who experience a delay in milk production frequently end up relying on bottle feeding to nourish their infants” (Zaife 13). The trouble with formula occurs when infants become allergic or may not be able to digest the formula properly. Bottle-feeding becomes costly when a parent has to purchase formula, bottles, and nipples. According to the American Medical Association, “During the first year of life, the cost of formula can run between $1,000 and $1,500” (Schroeder 2). The preparation of formula is time consuming when a parent’s main responsibility is to organize, clean, and prepare bottles for each infant’s feeding. Formula does not have a guaranteed freshness and can go bad at times. “Formula does not fully meet the nutritional and immunity needs of infants, leaving their immune systems flailing. An infant’s immune system has three aspects: its own immature, developing immune system; the small components of immunities that passes through the placenta during natural childbirth; and the most valuable, living portion that is passed on through mother’s milk on an ongoing basis. Remove any of these components and you take away a vital support structure” (Palmer 5). Formula has the possibility to cause gas or constipation in an infant’s body. Formula feeding has no comparison to the natural, producing milk of a mother.
“In the early 1970s, few American women nursed their babies. Formula was seen as the technological solution to the inconvenience of breastfeeding. Since then, as science repeatedly proved breast milk’s superiority, the rates have steadily increased-with significant regional variations” (Gebel 2). Parents are learning through extensive research over the course of many years that breastfeeding exhibits many characteristics that formula feeding cannot obtain. Research has found three quarters of women in America breastfeed. “Our society has sexualized breast and made women embarrassed to use them as our Creator intended. Women need more support, not less, to make the commitment to breast-feed” (Keller 20). When a woman is expecting, doctors forget to inform the benefits breastfeeding offers which at times increases the likelihood of choosing formula feeding for some women. Mothers need to be informed of both types of feeding in order to choose one that best suites the comfort level and lifestyle of individual parents. Breastfeeding in most cases can be the best decision for the mother and child. “We need people growing up who are well-balanced, giving, and able to answer the questions of the world as to how to go forward. They need the best start in life. Breastfeeding is a noble calling, and takes commitment. It doesn’t take money, just love” (McGreevy 9).
Each mother has a crucial decision concerning the method in which they will nourish their child. Each decision has benefits and disadvantages, but when each is considered closely there is no wrong choice. Both types of feeding provide infants with the daily nutrients to survive. Breastfeeding has been found to have greater benefits, but the choice depends upon what the parents find most helpful in their lives. “Neither style of feeding is indicative of anything solid except this: there is a baby, and it needs to eat” (Wolter 1).
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