Breastfeeding has many solid benefits, both for the baby and the mother. In fact, there are so many benefits that it would be impossible to list them all. But here are some reasons why you should breastfeed your baby.
You’ll Help Your Baby Stay Healthy
When you nurse your baby your body is constantly making antibodies to help protect your baby against disease and illness.
One of the best ways to keep your baby from getting sick is to breastfeed.
In addition to keeping your baby healthy through cold and flu season, you’ll also be giving his immunities a jump start and may even be able to protect him from certain childhood cancers as well as asthma, and diabetes.
You’ll Have Benefits Too
Your baby isn’t the only one to receive benefits from breastfeeding.
As a matter of fact, more and more studies are showing that there are plenty of benefits for the breastfeeding mother as well.
Breastfeeding may help protect you against female cancer, and especially breast cancer.
In addition, breastfeeding releases oxytocin, which is the feel-good hormone. Breastfeeding may actually help combat postpartum depression.
Breastfeeding May Keep Your Period Away
Not all women will see the benefit of having a break from their cycle, but if you are one, enjoy it! Breastfeeding may keep menstruation away for a while.
Some women may even be able to use it as a means for planning or preventing their pregnancies, but be advised that it’s not always 100% foolproof, in case that’s important to you.
It May Prevent Osteoporosis in the Lactating Mom
Breastfeeding moms absorb calcium better, therefore nursing your baby may actually help prevent you from getting osteoporosis later in life.
You’ll Bond With Your Baby
Let’s face it, there’s no better way to bond with your baby than to be snuggled up close skin-to-skin.
Breastfeeding your baby will help you both want to be close to each other. You will develop a mutual trust for each other.
And best of all, your baby will grow up having the security of knowing you were able to meet his first — and most important — need.
Your Baby May Have a Higher IQ
There are certain studies indicating that your baby may actually have a higher IQ if you breastfeed.
Breast milk contains nutrients that are important for brain development. If that’s not a reason to breastfeed, I don’t know what is!
It’s Way More Convenient Than Choosing to Formula Feed
I don’t know about you, but I am not too fond of waking up in the middle of the night to prepare a meal.
If you choose to breastfeed, you’ll have everything your baby needs ready to go at a moment’s notice. You won’t have to wake up and makes a bottle and then warm it up to just the right temperature.
When my baby wakes up in the middle of the night to nurse, I simply reach out and pull him into my bed and he happily nurses while we both drift back to sleep.
It’s pretty convenient! Not to mention, when we leave the house I don’t have to pack anything with me. His food goes wherever I go!
Nursing Your Little One is Soothing
There’s something about sitting down to nurse your baby that is relaxing for both of you. It causes you to take a timeout from the daily stresses and focus on your baby. Similarly, your baby needs you and is comforted when you nurse him. Have you ever seen a baby screaming and inconsolable but when he starts to nurse he is comforted immediately? That’s one of the amazing benefits of breastfeeding
It’s Cost Effective
There’s absolutely no cost involved in breastfeeding. There’s simply no other way to put it! If you choose to breastfeed, you won’t need bottles, bottle liners, formula, and so on.
It Helps Your Baby Get Ready for Real Life Food
Eventually, your baby will eat more than just breastmilk. By breastfeeding now, you’ll get him on the right track to eat real food later. Start healthy eating habits while your baby is little. It’ll be worth it!
Your Baby’s Teeth Could be Affected (for the Good)
Did you know that breastfeeding may actually allow your child’s teeth to be straighter when he grows up?
In the long run, if you choose to breastfeed, your child may end up never needing braces.
As a matter of fact, a study was done in Brazil, indicating that if you nurse your baby for more than nine months, you may be helping the formation of the jaw and therefore preventing any future need of orthodontics.
It’s Also Good for the Environment
Just another sweet little benefit to breastfeeding is the fact that it’s good for the environment.
Obviously, there isn’t any waste associated with nursing your baby. No empty formula cans for bottle liners to dispose of.
It Might Help You Lose Baby Weight Quicker
Some women experience a rapid loss of baby weight when nursing. Now, if you’re not one of those women, Please don’t panic! Everybody’s body is different.
But as a general rule, breastfeeding seems to help melt away excess postpartum body fat.
Just another reason why you should consider breastfeeding if you haven’t already.
The Milk is Customized to Your Baby’s Needs
Each baby has its own set of needs.
The interesting thing?
Your body customizes your baby’s milk, based on his age and individual needs.
If you and your baby have been exposed to a sickness, then your body will be fast at work making antibodies to fight off any impending infection.
Additionally, as your baby’s age changes, so does the makeup of your breast milk.
Breastfeeding Lowers SIDS Risk
Breastfed babies are at a significantly lower risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). This benefit alone, convinces me!
So Many Reasons to Breastfeed
As I said earlier there are so many reasons why you should choose to breastfeed. It’s almost impossible to list all of the reasons here.
Hopefully, you see that the benefits are well worth it to both you and your baby.
It’s my guess that as time goes on, science will find even more reasons why breastfeeding is beneficial to both you and your baby.
Yes, I always trust “Breastfeeding mothers are the best moms”, Though Nursing takes much my time, I will keep it after read those benefits!