There are many reasons to douse the baby bottle with quality baby formula including a less fattening diet, money saving, and even health considerations. Still, some parents are torn between breastfeeding their infant and giving them a bottle. “For most babies,” said Dr. Jennifer Shu, pediatrician in the division of neonatology at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles “breastfeeding is far healthier for them and not having that has an increased risk of obesity.” This post will help you make your decision by looking at the pros and cons of each life-changing option.
- Formula is less fattening: Parents want to infant their children in the best way they can. They want to give them healthier options and they want them to be more active when they are older. Most babies nurse for six months and then start solids. Some experts suggest nine months as a perfect time for introducing solids. Food preferences are set in this stage of life, so if an infant does not nurse or prefers bottles, then parents are free to continue giving him or her solids at this age.
- Formula is cheaper: Formula is often cheaper than breastfeeding. The average price of formula ranges from $0.65 to $1 per ounce per serving, depending on the brand. While breastfeeding costs $10 to $25 per month in formula and pumping, depending on how frequently you need to breastfeed and how many times a day you pump, this is less expensive than feeding your baby bottled milk that can cost up to $400 per month if you have twins.
- Formula is less messier: Formula tends to be messier compared with bottles because most bottles tend to be made of plastic, which does not clean very easily. Formula can contain more solids than breast milk because it does not have as much water in it. Breast milk is widely praised as the most natural choice for breastfed babies because it contains most of the infant’s mother’s nutrients. It is important to consider that breast milk also contains antibodies that will protect your baby from harmful viruses and bacteria.
- Formula does not require breastfeeding: Many health professionals suggest starting formulas when the baby is six months of age. This allows the parent to start introducing solids, which can be one reason parents choose bottles over breastfeeding. Breastfeeding through these first 6-8 months can result in a heavier birth weight and can also put infants at an increased risk for obesity later in life.
- Formula-fed infants may cost less in the long run: If you are concerned about having a larger infant, breast-feeding can slow down your baby’s weight gain. If your child is on organic formula, he or she may end up heavier, which can cost more later in life to treat diabetes from obesity as an adult. Parents who are concerned about their child being obese should consider speaking with their pediatrician about this concern.
Conclusion
Here were 5 reasons why experts suggest you to search how to transition from breastmilk to formula and do it. Parents might be surprised to learn that one fifth of mothers breastfeed for less than two months and one fourth for three months or less. This is why some pediatricians and the American Academy of Pediatrics suggest starting babies on formula after six months of age.