What are the benefits of bottle feeding over breast feeding?

Question

I have no children, and i am not pregnant, i am just curious to find out. Moms, you comments appreciated

Answer 1

I don't believe there are any benefits of bottle feeding (other than being able to let someone else feed the baby a lot of the time) over breastfeeding....just the complete opposite. There are many benefits to breastfeeding.

Mother's milk is tailor-made for your baby. In fact, it actually matches 50% of your baby's genetic material.

Breastmilk composition is very stable, even when the mother has a poor diet or is ill.

Mother’s milk contains the fatty acids essential to the development of the baby’s nervous system and vision. This may be one of the reasons why breastfed babies’ IQ are 8 to 10 points higher than that of formula-fed babies.

Mother's milk protects the baby from many diseases, both during breastfeeding and throughout life, first by conferring passive immunity and then by stimulating the baby's own immune system. These effects increase with breastfeeding duration.

Breastmilk is always available, never spoiled and totally free.

Breastfed babies cry less and have less digestive troubles (such as « colic »)

Breastfeeding releases endorphins, which creates a feeling of relaxation and well being in mother and baby, and is even an ideal pain reliever for the baby.

No preparation, sterilisation, etc. of bottles and formula (often while baby cries…)

Breastfeeding saves time and money. Artificial baby milks and supplies are costly : 2000$ to 3000$ per year, per child in Canada, not counting medical costs and lost wages stemming from the higher illness rates associated with formula feeding.

Breastfeeding protects the mother from pre-menopausal breast, ovarian and endometrial cancers, as well as osteoporosis. This protection increases with breastfeeding duration.

Breastfeeding mothers regain their pre-pregnancy weight more quickly than non-breastfeeding mothers.

Answer 2

I'm not a mother, but I am an aunt several times over. From what I've heard, the benefits of bottle feeding over breast feeding are pure convenience for the parents. Obviously, in some cases, mothers can't breast feed (health issues or simple lack of milk). But all the data suggests that there are significant health benefits to the child if the mother can breast feed for as long as is reasonable (many choose to stop either when the mother has to return to work or when the child begins to grow teeth). Even the poop of babies who breast feed smells better than that of kids who are bottle fed.

But bottle feeding does allow other people to participate in feeding the baby - father, grandparents, baby-sitters (though pumping breast milk into a bottle would do the same). It may also be easier to get bottle fed babies on a regular feeding schedule.

I know that it is incredibly difficult to breast feed multiples (twins, triplets, etc). So in that case, multiples can get more food on a better schedule when they are bottle fed.

Answer 3

Of course the powerful health benefits of your breast milk are the same but the emotional benefits to you and your baby are reduced by the reduction of time spent bonding together. This has been clinically proven by Psychoanalysts. Breastfeeding sets up a persons ability to trust others and its the daily connection mother to child that sets it up. If you bottle feed your breast milk youwill not feel the connection as you pump and she will not feel the connection, especially if it is someone else feeding her which will happen more and more as you find something more important to do with your time.

Answer 4

I tried to breastfeed, but had a really hard time with it. DH was in the Army, Mom didn't so she was no help, and I finally just gave up. By bottle-feeding, I could take him to a sitter's when I needed a break. He was sleeping through the night at six weeks, and I believe that is less common for breastfed babies. I am an exceptionally private person, so it wasn't embarrassing to feed him anywhere and everywhere I needed. I would have difficulty breastfeeding in public.

It's a personal choice. Next time, I really want to try breastfeeding again. I think it might be easier with a second child. Just don't let anybody beat you up for the decision. Bottle-fed babies are healthy, too.

Answer 5

Our child is fed breast milk through a bottle. This allows my wife to work away from home. The pump lets her schedule when she needs to express her milk as compared to matching the irregular feeding habits of a baby. It's gentler on her poor breasts than the baby would be, and I'm able to help with the feeding to give her a break.

No single approach to feeding is better than the others. Find what works for you! For us, it's the bottle.

Answer 6

The major one is being able to let someone else feed the baby. The second is not having to worry if the milk is overdue or not.