Mother nursing her baby.
Mother nursing her baby.

Benefits of Breast Feeding Baby

<p><a title="Benefits of breast feeding for the baby" href="https://www.motheringfromtheheart.com/Benefits.htm" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Breast-feeding</a>&nbsp;feeding has once again become very common in today's society. But, did you know why it is so healthy for baby? Here are just a few reasons to consider.<img class=" alignright size-full wp-image-172" src="https://dev.positivechoices.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/Nursing-baby.jpeg" alt="Mother nursing her baby." title="Mother nursing her baby." width="250" height="188" style="float: right;" /></p><p>Breast-fed babies have:</p>

blog May 25, 2010

Breast-feeding feeding has once again become very common in today’s society. But, did you know why it is so healthy for baby? Here are just a few reasons to consider.Mother nursing her baby.

Breast-fed babies have:

  • fewer incidences of vomiting and diarrhea in the USA. (Did you know that 20-35 million episodes of diarrhea occur in children under the age of 5 in the USA, resulting in over 200,000 hospitalizations and 400-500 deaths every year?)
  • reduced risk of chronic constipation, colic, and other stomach upsets.
  • reduced risk of childhood diabetes.
  • natural protection against ear infections, respiratory illnesses, pneumonia, bronchitis, kidney infections and septicemia (blood poisoning).
  • greater protection against allergies, asthma, eczema, and other allergic diseases.
  • reduced risk of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome). (Did you know that for every 87 deaths from SIDS, only 3 are breastfed?)
  • decreased risk of tooth decay and cavities.
  • higher IQ’s, as well as improved brain and nervous system development. The IQ of breast-fed children is 10-12 points higher than bottle-fed peers at the age of 8, 12, and 18. 
  • reduced risk of heart disease later in life.
  • a special warm bonding and emotional relationship with their mothers.
  • higher antibody response to vaccines.
  • a hospitalization rate 10 times less than formula-fed infants in the first year of life.
  • decreased risk for vitamin E and iron deficiency (anemia).
  • decreased risk for acute appendicitis, and rheumatoid arthritis.
  • lower risk of childhood obesity.

The lesson is simple. Breast-feed your baby!

A separate blog will highlight some of the health benefits that breast-feeding brings to the mother.