which is better= breastfeeding or bottle?

Answer 1

BREASTFEEDING BENEFITS FROM TOP TO BOTTOM
Breastfeeding is good for every part of baby's body--from the brain to the diaper area. Here's a list:


Brain. Higher IQ in breastfed children. Cholesterol and other types of fat in human milk support the growth of nerve tissue.

Eyes. Visual acuity is higher in babies fed human milk.

Ears. Breastfed babies get fewer ear infections.

Mouth. Less need for orthodontics in children breastfed more than a year. Improved muscle development of face from suckling at the breast. Subtle changes in the taste of human milk prepare babies to accept a variety of solid foods.

Throat. Children who are breastfed are less likely to require tonsillectomies.

Respiratory system. Evidence shows that breastfed babies have fewer and less severe upper respiratory infections, less wheezing, less pneumonia and less influenza.

Heart and circulatory system. Evidence suggests that breastfed children may have lower cholesterol as adults. Heart rates are lower in breastfed infants.

Digestive system. Less diarrhea, fewer gastrointestinal infections in babies who are breastfeeding. Six months or more of exclusive breastfeeding reduces risk of food allergies. Also, less risk of Crohn's disease and ulcerative colitis in adulthood.

Immune system. Breastfed babies respond better to vaccinations. Human milk helps to mature baby's own immune system. Breastfeeding decreases the risk of childhood cancer.

Endocrine system. Reduced rish of getting diabetes.

Kidneys. With less salt and less protein, human milk is easier on a baby's kidneys.

Appendix. Children with acute appendicitis are less likely to have been breastfed.

Urinary tract. Fewer infections in breastfed infants.

Joints and muscles. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis is less common in children who were breastfed.

Skin. Less allergic eczema in breastfed infants.

Growth. Breastfed babies are leaner at one year of age and less likely to be obese later in life.

Bowels. Less constipation. Stools of breastfed babies have a less-offensive odor.

Answer 2

Formulas can never, ever even come close to a Mother's breast milk. Every time I read of the benefits of breast milk to a baby, especially the parts about establishing a strong immune system and and how people have less allergies throughout life, I wonder how much less I would struggle with these health problems had I been breastfed. Think of it this way: how likely is it that you will have any regrets whatsoever if you breastfeed? Now ask yourself how likely is it that you will regret not breastfeeding?The amount of focus and intention required to breastfeed pays off exponentially greater than the efforts that go with the territory either way.I believe you will never wish you had not breastfed. Can't say the same about using something other than what your own body has prepared specifically for your own offspring. And if that isn't enough, remember that you lose the pregnancy weight a lot sooner that way, as breastfeeding triggers your own body's hormones to return to a non-pregnant metabolism, and feeding that way burns a whole lot of calories.Plus, no bottles to wash! Best wishes and congratulations on beginning such a precious season of life :)

Answer 3

I get so tired of hearing about the wonders of breastfeeding. Both of my kids were bottle fed from day #1.

Bottle feeding allowed me to participate more in feedings and helped build a stronger father-child bond, which is just as important as the mother-child bond. I also think that because mom wasn't strapped to a baby for a year or two of her life, that the relationship between mom/dad was far better. I think kids drive many relationships into the ground because the burden of kids is placed so heavily on the mom. As a very involved dad, I can tell you that the best present you can give your kids is a happy marriage. Bottle feeding helped that to happen.

I get tired of hearing about all of the "research" about how breast fed kids have higher IQ's. If you look at the numbers, the statistical difference is 1 IQ point (many incorrectly think it is 10- IQ points). It is 1. I also don't know how you factor out that there are a bunch of societal factors that allow certain classes of people to breast feed and other to not. Certain classes of pople have higher IQ's than others. I don't know how you factor all of those things out when comparing breast-fed vs. bottle fed kids I also don't know how you include in the sample moms that would like to breast feed that didn't (for the sake of an experiment). What mom would do that? That alone skews the results.

Also, my kids don't have any worse allergies than any other kid I know. Besides, who isn't allergic to SOMETHING these days. If you're not, I'm sure you can find a doctor that will find you allergic to something. My 5 year old has never had an ear infection. She has the same amount of colds other kids have in a given year.

If you want to breastfeed . . .by all means do it. Bottle feeding is fine too. The only problem is you have to deal with all of those militant breast-feeding moms that think bottle feeding is horrid.

Lastly, if your worried about losing weight, well take a look around. There are more than enough overweight breast feeders to suggest that breast feeding alone isn't going to do much to shed the pounds. You'll have to hit the treadmill either way, honey.

Answer 4

That really cant be answered easily with a pat statement. If the mother has any blood born infections or takes any medications that are transferred through blood then its likely it will transfer in milk and therefore its much safer to use a bottle, some mothers cannot produce enough milk in any situation and must use the bottle, bottles provide a less embarrasing way of feeding if you are sensative about being seen. If you are in good health and the infant is too, then breast feeding is best, especially in the first few days, due to natural antibodies passed in a healthy mothers milk.Some say that nursing creates a tighter bond, that is debatable.cuddle and care gently for a bottle baby and they are just fine. So in the end, its a matter of making up ones mind about how they want to do things, a nursing mother can pump milk to be bottle fed when shes in public or by a baby sitter if she works. Most every situation can be worked around. so do what you believe will be best.

Answer 5

Breastfeeding a baby is better than using a bottle. It is immediately available for the baby unlike the bottle you have to prepare then get it the right temperature. Breastfed babies have a decreased risk os SIDS, Diabetes, Gastroenteritis, Diarrhoea, Asthma, Allergies, Urinary Tract Infection, Chest Infection and wheezing, Ear Infection, and Obesity. Also the sucking motion they use to obtain the milk encourages proper development of teeth and speech organs. However, medicines can be transferred through bresatmilk, though in very small amounts and rarely harmful, you should watch what medicines you use when breastfeeding.

Answer 6

Breastfeeding is better BY FAR -

1 - breastfed babies have higher IQs, general intelligence, faster brain development and faster eye development than nonbreastfed babies.

2- Breastfed babies have fewer gastrointestinal problems, such as constipation, diarhea, gas, vomiting, reflux, etc.

3- Breastfeeding is better for bonding and attachment

4- Breastfeeding supplies the baby with antibodies through the breastmilk, which means that breastfed babies have better immune systems and do not get sick as often

5- Breastfed babies have fewer allergic reactions than do formula fed babies

6- Breastfeeding is cheaper than formula feeding (you save about $200 per month) plus, since breastfed babies are healthier and do not get sick as often, you save money on Dr. bills, medications, missed work, etc...

7-Breastfeeding is the natural perfect food for your baby. Formula is made in a lab - it is not natural, it is processed. Therefore, there are many unknown benefits of breastmilk over formula that are yet to be discovered. It's like saying cheese whiz is just as healthy as natural cheddar cheese. It's NOT. One is real, whole food, the other is man-made, processed, and inferior.

8- breastfeeding is more convenient after the first initial weeks of getting used to it and figuring it out - there are no bottles to sterilize, you dont have to lug around formula, bottles, and water everywhere you go. You dont have to worry about finding a place to warm the baby's bottle when you are out and about. Breastmilk is always available, always fresh, never spoils, always the right temperature. It is the perfect food for your baby.

Answer 7

Breastfeeding is definitely better. Breastmilk has antibodies and other immune related compounds in it that formula doesn't. Having said that, its not always convenient to breastfeed and in some cases the nipple can become irritated making it painful to breastfeed. A whole generation of us grew up on the bottle (baby bottle that is) and somehow we survived so, breastfeeding is better but if you can't for whatever reason, don't worry about it.

Answer 8

Breastfeeding is obviously the better way to go. If you cant or need to switch to formula use an organic formula. Earths Best makes one and is available at natural food stores (wild oats, whole foods, etc) The ingredients are much better then all that stuff in grocery store formulas. But best to breast feed for the first 6 months at least.

Answer 9

In a word? Breastfeeding.

Answer 10

Breastfeeding is best for babies under 2 months old. But then, if you find it hard to do breastfeeding, life if you're working or something, you can always do the breast pump thing so you could train your baby to use the bottle.

It's very hard for working moms to do breastfeeding

Answer 11

Breastfeeding is best but, if a woman cant, or feels uncomfortable, formula is a good substitute. I would like to see every new mother breast feed her baby once soon after birth for the colostrum but after that it is very much a personal decision.