Make an Informed Decision

Breastfeeding and breastmilk

Breastmilk is:

• free and safe,
• always the right temperature,
• available anytime, and
• environmentally friendly. 

Breastmilk helps protect your baby from:

• being overweight or obese,
• ear infections,
• bowel disease,
• SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome),
• respiratory infections,
• some childhood cancers,
• diabetes, and
• the effects of toxins in the environment.

Breastfeeding helps prevent:

• breast cancer,
• diabetes,
• ovarian cancer, and
• mood disorders.

Breastfeeding promotes:

• closeness and bonding between mom and baby,
• healthy brain development, and
• healthy tooth and jaw development.

Breastfeeding is a learned skill and often requires practice and support.  

If you have made an informed decision to breastfeed your baby, begin your breastfeeding action plan.

Infant formula

Infant formula:

• will provide your baby with necessary nutrients until 6 months of age.
• will not protect your baby from infections and diarrhea.
• requires extra time to properly sterilize equipment.
• costs money.
• does not provide the same nutritional value as breastmilk.
• is not sterile in powdered form.
• is not recommended in the powdered form for babies who are premature, babies who had a low birth weight (less than 2,500 grams or 5.5 pounds) and are under two months of age, and babies who have a weakened immune system.

Some reasons for providing infant formula:

• Your baby may have a medical condition and needs to be fed formula or special formula.
• A mother may have a medical condition and is unable to breastfeed.
• A mother and baby may be separated from each other, and the mother is unable to get enough milk to her baby.
• A mother may consider feeding infant formula if she is facing some breastfeeding challenges. 

If you have made an informed decision to give your baby infant formula and need more information please visit our feeding infant formula page.