Why should you give your baby breast milk?

     A mother’s milk has just the right amount of fat, sugar, water, and protein that is needed for a baby’s growth and development. Most babies find it easier to digest breast milk than they do formula. According to the FDA, no babies are allergic to their mother’s milk, although they may have a reaction to something the mother eats. Breast fed infants grow exactly the way they should. They gain less unnecessary weight and tend to be leaner; this may result in being less overweight later in life.

     More than two decades of research have established that breast milk is perfectly suited to nourish infants and protect them from illness. Babies who drink breast milk have lower rates of hospital admissions, ear infections, diarrhea, rashes, allergies, and other medical problems. About 80 percent of the cells in breast milk are macrophages, cells that kill bacteria, fungi and viruses. Breast milk contains at least 100 ingredients not found in formula. Studies even show how premature babies do better when they are fed breast milk. Breast milk saves time and a lot of money. You never have to worry about going through several different types of formula to find the one that your baby will tolerate. Mother’s milk always works for her baby.

http://www.lalecheleague.org/

http://kidshealth.org/

http://www.fda.gov/

http://www.aap.org/