You want only the best for your new born and the best way to keep your baby healthy is to breastfeed him. There is lots of reason for this, and you will find them listed below.

Breast milk is considered to be probably the most nutritionally complete milk for babies there is. After all, it was made by humans for humans, and not only does it provide different types of immune factors which are not available in formulae milk, breast milk is also best in not only assisting the baby's guts to work properly but also assists in the neurological development, and their psychological well-being.

It has also been found that on the whole, breast-fed baby's also tend to have fewer admissions to hospital and lower rates of illnesses such as diarrhoea, rashes, allergic reactions, ear infections etc than their bottle fed counterparts suffer.

An interesting fact about breast milk that many people don't realise is the nutrient composition which makes up breast milk changes as the baby grows. To start with, breast milk is more thirst quenching for newborns as they don't need a lot to eat, but as they get older it thickens to satisfy their growing hunger.

Aside from the physical health benefits, it is also probable the breast fed baby enjoys a special sense of security and comfort from the warmth and presence of his mother, especially when they are enjoying skin-to-skin contact during feeding time. A mother who is breastfeeding her baby, has to cuddle her infant to ensure he latches onto the breast correctly, therefore she is cuddling her child closely often throughout the day. This gives the baby an increased sense of security.

Natural defence

Experts recommend babies should be breast-fed for at least the first six to twelve months. But if this isn't possible, then baby formula should also be offered (not cows milk). If solid food is to be introduced, then this should be introduced when the baby is at least four months old (possibly slightly older).

The breast fed baby is well protected against infections etc from antibodies he receives from his mother's milk. These antibodies are an important factor in ensuring the baby's help is kept at an optimum for as long as possible. It is also thought that breast fed baby's have a lesser chance of developing celiac disease than their bottle fed counterparts.