Breastfeeding Reasons:

Day 31: It’s what breast are for!

Day 30: Breast milk lowers risk of baby developing asthma and protects against respiratory infections

 Day 29: Formula feeding increases chances of your baby developing allergies and ear infections

Day 28: Your child’s palate will expand

Formula always tastes the same. Breastmilk’s flavor changes depending on what you eat, and will make your  baby more apt to try and like different flavors as he or she grows

Day 27: It’s great for the environment

Day 26: Expands your social circle

You will immediately feel a connection with other breastfeeding moms, and joining a breastfeeding support group can be invaluable in advice and understanding of what you are going through.

Day 25: It’s cheaper!

Even if you factor in the cost of a lactation consultant and/or breast pump rental to get you through any initial rough patches, it will cost you less than the $800-$1800/yr. cost of formula. Add to that less doctor’s visits, parent sick day costs, hospital stays, prescriptions…

Day 24: Reduces chances of obesity

Breastfed babies rely on their own hunger signals to determine how much to eat, while bottle-fed babies are often over-fed and have less control over how much they eat. This creates infant eating patterns that carry on through a child’s life.

Day 23: Easier to digest = less gas and fussiness

Your baby is not a calf. Milk that is not made specifically for the human belly is harder to process.

Day 22: It can boost your baby’s IQ

3 extra points may not sound like a lot, but if your baby is premature or has a low birth weight, these three points can mean a lot.

Day 21: Works your baby’s eyesight and hand/eye coordination

Figuring out the distance between mouth and nipple makes babies use their eyes and hands. Which in turn improves eye-hand coordination, specially if baby is switched from one breast to the other. Breastmilk also contains the omega-3 fatty acid DHA, which promotes healthy eye development.

Day 20: Breastfeeding helps your baby’s jaw and teeth development

As your baby works to get your milk to come out, her jaw muscles strengthen, and proper tooth alignment is promoted.

Day 19: Because breast milk is both nutrition and medicine

As your baby grows and the environment around both of you changes (in terms of germs, viruses and other icky stuff) your breast milk adapts to satisfy your baby’s nutritional needs, and supply disease-fighting antibodies to keep her or him healthy.

Day 18: Easier to cleanspit-up stains from breastmilk

Day 8 through 17: It’s not just for your baby! You reap the benefits as well:

17 – Nursing helps mom lose weight after baby is born

16 – Baby’s suckling helps shrink mother’s uterus after childbirth AND helps prevent post-partum hemorrhage in mother

15 – Not breastfeeding increases mother’s risk of developing breast cancer, endometrial cancer and ovarian cancer

14 – Breastfeeding decreases chances of osteoporosis

13 – Protects mothers against anemia (iron deficiency)

12 – Breastfeeding acts like a natural tranquilizer for mom

11 – Breastfeeding promotes bonding between mother and baby

10 – Self confidence booster for mom

9 – Breastfeeding mothers spend less money on menstrual supplies

8 – More sleep for mom (and dad!)

Day 7:  The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends it

“Human milk is the preferred feeding for all infants, including premature and sick newborns… It is recommended that breastfeeding continue for at least the first 12 months, and thereafter for as long as mutually desired.”

Day 6: Breastmilk is always fresh, and the perfect temperature.

No need to mix or warm up. It’s always ready. : )

Day 5: It helps close baby’s gut.

A close gut = healthier baby

Breast milk is living protection against all kinds of germs. By exclusively breastfeeding your baby, the colostrum and initial milk create a mucosal barrier that protects baby’s gut until it matures enough to seal off infection and shut out allergenic proteins and allows for healthier gut flora.

(Pst- for Days 1 through 4, tale a look at the video at the end of my last post : )