The "breast versus bottle" debate is as old as the hills. Read the following pros and cons of both breast- and bottle-feeding and decide for yourself which option is best for you and your baby.
Breastfeeding
Pros:
1. Cost – Breastmilk is free!
2. Convenience – You will not have to make or heat up a bottle in the middle of the night - breastmilk is always at the right temperature! On day trips, you will not need to lug around bottles of formula.
3. Nutritional Value – You can rest assured that your child is receiving all of the correct vitamins and minerals s/he needs; and you know that there are no unwanted additives or preservatives.
4. Postpartum Recovery – Breastfeeding after birth will help your uterus return to its normal size sooner.
5. Smell – The diapers of breastfed babies smell better than those of babies who are fed formula!
6. Cancer Prevention – Statistics show that breastfeeding mothers have a lower chance of developing breast cancer.
7. Bonding – The skin-to-skin contact can be an important bonding experience between you and your baby.
8. Allergies – Babies who are breastfed 6 months or longer have a lesser chance of developing food allergies.
Cons:
1. Time – It can take up to an hour (though usually closer to thirty minutes) to successfully breastfeed.
2. Restrictions – It is suggested that you follow the same dietary restrictions while nursing that you did during your pregnancy.
3. Reduced Libido – Breastfeeding mothers experience a reduced sex drive.
4. Leaking – Small to moderate amounts of breastmilk may leak from your breasts for as long as you continue to breastfeed.
Bottle Feeding
Pros:
1. Conveience – Anyone can feed your child. You can leave your baby with your partner, a grandparent, or a sitter and not have to worry about pumping.
2. Sleep – Bottle-fed babies tend to sleep through the night sooner.
3. Comfort – You will suffer from engorgement for a far shorter period of time, and you will not be subjected to the pain and infections that sometimes afflict nursing mothers.
4. Monitoring - You know exactly how much your baby has had to eat.
Cons:
1. Cost – The costs of bottles and nipples, not to mention formula, add up quickly.
2. Increased Risk Of Certain Disorders - Artificially fed babies may be statistically more likely to develop meningitis, severe respiratory infection, cancer, polio, eczema, caries teeth, coronary artery disease, insulin dependent diabetes, disseminated sclerosis, etc.
3. Risks – If nipples are not sterilized well enough, baby runs the risk of infection
When it comes down to it, the most important thing is that your baby is fed a proper diet. Whether you choose to administer that diet through a breast or a bottle is up to you!
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