Newborn Nutrition

Breast or Bottle? Bottle or Breast?

That is the first question that you'll have to answer about newborn nutrition. Some people are absolutely positive which one they will choose. Others weigh their options and it's still a hard decision to make. I would like to re-assure you that neither is wrong.

I just knew way before I was pregnant that I wanted to breast feed. From some of the reading that I had done, I felt that it was the best for the baby, nutritionally. Also, studies have shown that breastfeeding helps to prevent ear infections, respiratory infections, allergies, asthma, meningitis and diarrhea, just to name a few.

Not to mention:

* You never have to go to the kitchen in the middle of the night to heat up a bottle

* It's at the perfect temperature so you can always drop what you are doing and feed your baby wherever you are

* It's FREE! You save a ton of money NOT buying formula! The cost of basic formula can cost up to $1500 during the first year.

* The baby gets all of your antibodies through your breast milk so he/she is protected even before they get their first shots.

Not to mention:

* Most formulas out there now have DHA and ARA which is also found in breast milk and are very important for your baby's development.

* You don't have to worry about producing enough breast milk. You can keep plenty of formula on hand.

* You can leave your baby with your partner or another caregiver and know that he/she will be fed enough and on schedule.

Either feeding method you choose, after the baby is done feeding, you will need to burp them. This is necessary and very easy to do. Burping your baby helps get rid of the air that is taken in while feeding and is trapped in their belly. If you don't burp them, it can lead to spitting up or gas which could be painful for them.

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