Why
Breastfeeding is Important
There are many reasons why breastfeeding is best for your baby: |
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Breast milk helps keep babies healthy. Breast milk protects
against many types of illness like colds, flu, diarrhea, and
ear infections. |
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Breast milk is ready day or night, anytime your baby is hungry.
It is always the right temperature. |
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Breast milk is easy for your baby to digest, since your body
makes it for your baby. |
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Breast milk is naturally clean. It passes from the breast to
the baby’s mouth and cannot “go bad” or “spoil.” |
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Breast
milk helps prevent diaper rash. |
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Breastfed
babies are less likely to be overweight later in life. They
learn to stop eating when they are full, instead of when the
bottle is empty. |
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Babies
fully breastfed for six months or longer are smarter than formula
fed babies when given IQ tests at school age. |
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The American Academy of Pediatrics Section on Breastfeeding,
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, American
Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine, World Health Organization,
United Nations Children’s Fund and many other health
organizations recommend exclusive breastfeeding for the first
six months of life.
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