Why Is Breastfeeding Better Than Bottle Feeding?

Breastfeeding has been well acknowledged as one of the best ways to feed infants and make them healthy; however but there is a craze among many to hand their toddler a bottle of milk. It is best we all understood that breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding; I do not however talk of those mothers that are not able to feed due to health reasons or due to adoption.

Reasons why breastfeeding is better than bottle feeding:

1) Since bottles are artificial and do not have the personal touch and warmth of a mother and could come in the way of bonding; the skin to skin contact of breastfeeding contributes to better bonding for the baby. 

2) It is never a good idea to shuttle between bottle feeding and breastfeeding; once an infant gets used to the silicon nipple he/she may refuse to take feeds at the breast. This would deprive the baby of rich source of enzymes and nutrients of breast milk that is vital for good health and immunity.

3) Bottle feeding could cause colic in babies, as they take in some amount of air along with the milk they suck in; colic or severe pain in the abdomen caused by wind and obstruction in the intestines is not generally caused in breast feeding.

4) There are lesser chances of overfeeding in breastfeeding as compared to bottle feeding; as the baby that suckles happily is able to monitor its intake on its own. Monitoring the quantity of milk in a bottle fed infant could leave him/her overfed.

5) There are more chances of infection in a bottle fed infant as the bacteria in the air gets inside the bottle through the nipple; this could only be avoided by cleaning and sterilizing the bottle properly. Also there is a chance of the milk pooling through the ear canal in bottle fed infants that if unnoticed could lead to painful ear infection.

6) Constant use of bottles in infants could lead to improper dental development, requiring orthodontic intervention like braces in future.

7) Breastfeeding is more convenient, natural and instant as compared to bottle feeds that involve boiling water, mixing of formula, cooling the mixture to the right temperature and then feeding the infant.   

8) The suckling on the silicon nipple in bottle feeding restricts the enhancement of the facial muscles; this is not the case with breastfeeding.

9) Accidents could occur unintentionally in bottle feeding when the temperature of the formula or milk is not checked and it is too hot for him/her; this could burn the lips or tongue of the infant.

  
Now are you convinced that breastfeeding of an infant is more desirable than feeding by the bottle?  

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