Perhaps you’re a new or prospective mother wondering how to breastfeed or wondering what sort of ingredients you should be looking for in infant formula. So is breastmilk or formula better for your baby’s overall health?
Pros and Cons of Breastfeeding
Most experts agree that breastfeeding is a better option for feeding your baby. Breast milk contains everything that your baby needs to grow and thrive. Breastfeeding can also:
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Promote mother-child bonding [1]
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Encourage healthy psychological development
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Provide nutrients your baby can’t get elsewhere
All that being said, breastfeeding isn’t without its drawbacks. For parents working outside of the home, breastfeeding can be a logistical challenge and sometimes is not the best option.
Pros of Breastfeeding
Let’s take a look at some of the most positive benefits of breastfeeding.
The Milk Is Always Ready
With breastfeeding, parents don’t have to worry about prepping a bottle in the middle of the night or heating the milk to just the right temperature. The milk is always perfect, and it’s always ready to go.
Breastfeeding Has Everything the Baby Needs
Breastmilk has the perfect composition [2] of fats, carbohydrates, and vitamins for babies. It’s perfect just the way it comes out.
Breastfeeding Can Help You Lose Weight
Mothers who breastfeed lose more weight than mothers who do not. Breastfeeding burns an additional 500-700 calories more than your usual metabolic rate, which could be why.
Cons of Breastfeeding
Here are some of the most significant breastfeeding cons.
The Baby Will Need to Eat More Frequently
Because breastmilk is more accessible for babies to digest and absorb, breastfed babies will, on average, eat more often than formula-fed babies.
You’ll Be the Parent in Demand
One of the most significant downsides of exclusively breastfeeding is that the mother becomes solely responsible for feeding the baby.
Your Life Will Revolve Around Breastfeeding
Depending on how long you choose to breastfeed, your life will likely revolve around breastfeeding for quite a while. Breastfed babies eat frequently and for an extended period.
Pros and Cons of Formula Feeding
Choosing a formula for your baby sometimes gets a lot of bad press. However, the truth is that there are many (good) reasons you may opt for it.
Breastfeeding doesn’t always work out, and it can be hard to anticipate that in advance. Milk supply issues, such as not producing enough milk, are good reasons to use formula.
If breastfeeding your infant isn’t an option, it’s essential to find the highest-quality formulas you can. Do your research and consult your baby’s medical provider for options.
Pros of Formula Feeding
Here are some of the most common pros of formula feeding.
Infant Formula Is Safe
In the United States, all infant formulas need to meet federal nutrition standards. However, not all formulas are created equal.
It’s best to ask your medical provider for recommendations. You may also want to consider European baby formulas, which tend to contain high-quality and healthier ingredients.
Everybody Can Pitch in With Feeding the Baby
Since anybody and everybody can give the baby a bottle, feeding no longer becomes the mother’s sole responsibility. This opening can be a big help, especially for new parents.
Your Life Doesn’t Revolve Around Breastfeeding
Along the same lines, parents using formula will have a bit more flexibility when going out and taking time away from the baby. This time can be a necessity for parents working outside of the home.
Cons of Formula Feeding
Now, let’s analyze the cons of formula feeding.
Your Baby May Develop Allergies
It is possible that your little one could develop an allergy or sensitivity to cow-milk-based formulas. But that wouldn’t be the end of the world. There are many alternatives, such as goat milk baby formula, that you can use.
Infant Formula Takes a Lot of Preparation
There’s nothing quite like putting together a bottle at 3:00 A.M.while the baby screams in your ear. There are many products out there to help you pre-assemble bottles. However, the fact is that it’s just going to require more assembly than the alternative.
It’s Expensive
Good formula costs money. While all formulas on the market are safe for babies, not all formulas are created equal.
Generally speaking, better quality formulas will cost you the most money. If you’re interested in healthier formulas such as European organic baby formulas, you can expect to be shelling out some cash.
So Which Is Better?
So which is better, formula or breastmilk? Well, from a strictly nutritional standpoint, breastmilk is the winner.
Breastmilk may be superior in nutrition and easier for the baby to absorb, but those aren’t the only considerations. Breastfeeding isn’t always possible or desirable, and that is okay. Instead of feeling ashamed or guilty, parents should feel empowered to make the best decision for the baby and themselves.
