Starting formula-fed babies on solid foods early may increase risk of obesity.

Formula-fed infants introduced to solid food before 4 months of age had 6.3 times higher risk of obesity by the age of 3 compared to breastfed infants. Breastfed infants showed no impact based on the age of introducing solid food (P<0.0001). This research confirms the long-term benefits of breast feeding during the first six months of baby's life.

PositiveTip: Breast-feeding young infants continues to be the healthiest choice for them!

Breast-feeding during the first six months of life reduces infections and hospital admissions.

Researchers in Crete interviewed 900 new mothers through-out the first year of their infants life to discover breast-feeding habits and the health of the newborns. When exclusively breast-fed infants experienced 30% fewer infections and 40% fewer admissions to the hospital. 

PositiveTip: Exclusive breast-feeding for the first six months of life provides huge benefits to the newborn!

Women who breast-feed have a lower risk of hip fractures later in life.

There are many benefits of breast feeding both to the baby and to the mother.  Women who breast feed are less likely to develop osteoporosis and therefore less likely later in life to fracture bones. Because falls in later life often result in fractured hips, we can say, that one way to help prevent fractured hips when you are older is to breast feed when you are younger. Pretty neat!

PositiveTip: For expecting mothers, plan on breast feeding! There are big benefits to mom and baby.