Breast Feeding vs Bottle FeedingMany people will tell you that breast is best but for some women this doesn't work out for several reasons. With bottle feeding there are so many formulas to choose from and from the moment your baby is born it may take a while to find the right one that suits your baby. Formula milk is made from cow's milk and contains all the goodness that breast milk does. If your baby becomes allergic to cow's milk a substitute called Soya can be used. With bottle feeding there is so much equipment required for sterilizing etc, you also need to prepare for the dreaded twilight hours as there is nothing worse than preparing a bottle when you‘re half asleep. If you're bottle feeding you'll also have to consider the different kinds of teats, latex, silicone, slow feed or medium, anti colic. It is thought that latex is more like the breast, and silicone teats will last longer. Babies who are bottle fed are more prone to gastroenteritis (sickness and diarrhea) if your bottles are not sterilized in the correct way. This is a very important point to consider, whilst with breast feeding the milk is always available, bottle fed babies often require a military type operation to ensure they have all of the necessary milk available. A made up bottle formula can be stored in the fridge for up to 24 hours. Making up the bottles can be time consuming as if you are interrupted and not sure how many scoops you have put in, then you have to dispose of it and start again. On the other hand, breast milk is again available at all times. One of the benefits of bottle feeding is that the experience can be shared with the whole family; dad can help out with night feeds which can help you to get enough beauty sleep in readiness for the day ahead. Most medical observers now agree that breast milk provides all the necessary nutrients that your baby needs to grow. As a result breastfeeding your baby for the first six months can give your baby the very best start in life. However, breast feeding is not for everyone and bottle formulas are now as close as possible to the more natural alternative. Babies who are breast fed are more likely to be ‘healthier' as it reduces the risk of sickness, chest infections etc. It is also known to boost the immune system and brain development. If you decide upon breast feeding, then when going out you do not have to get bottles ready and take another bag just for the milk. Many retail shops and supermarkets have a facility where you can breast feed your baby in a private cubicle or in a room where you get the opportunity to talk to other mums whilst feeding. One worry for many first time mums is that they're not sure exactly how much milk their baby is getting during breast feeding, obviously with a bottle the amount of milk is already measured out. It's also fair to say that breast feeding can take a little longer than bottle feeding, as one feed can take anything up to an hour as most babies will latch on for approx 20 minutes each side to obtain a good feed. In summary, there is no right or wrong choice when it comes down to breast feeding vs bottle feeding. The choice is there for a woman to make, both choices have their merits and advantages so often the decision comes down to what feels right for you. The good news is that it is very easy to change your mind should one method not suit. Read more of our articles on breast feeding Breast Feeding Problems |