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Choosing how and what to feed your baby is a personal decision that deserves careful and thorough consideration. Breast milk is the natural nutritional source for infants less than one year of age.
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Most healthcare professionals (including the American Academy of Pediatricians and the National Association of Pediatric Nurse Associates and Practitioners) recommend breastfeeding for your baby's first year.
Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for the first 6 months of life. It contains appropriate amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat, and provides digestive enzymes, minerals, vitamins, and hormones that infants require. Breast milk also contains antibodies from the mother that can help the baby resist infections.
Experts agree that breastfeeding your baby for any length of time, regardless of how short, is of benefit to you and your baby.
You can provide your baby with breast milk directly by breastfeeding or by feeding your baby breast milk from a bottle.
Breastfeeding your baby (directly from the breast):
- Can only be done by you
- Can be done exclusively or can be supplemented with bottle feedings
Feeding your baby breast milk with a bottle:
- Can be given with a bottle by you or others
- Requires regular pumping of milk from your breasts
- Requires appropriate handling and storage of milk
- Requires appropriate preparation of bottles and nipples
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