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For many Moms, deciding whether or not to bottle feed your baby is not a decision that you made lightly. Society and the media don’t make the choice any easier. Oftentimes, bottle feeding can appear a bad choice compared to breastfeeding. But it’s not, and we’ll tell you why in this article.
Many mothers decide not to breastfeed or cannot breastfeed for different reasons, specific to each individual. Therefore, do not need to feel guilty about choosing to bottle feed—fed is best!
While nothing can truly replace the natural benefits of mother’s milk, using baby formula also has several benefits for mother and baby. Baby formulas are created to be as close to mother’s milk as possible.
What Are The Benefits of Bottle Feeding a Baby?
Here are some of the top benefits of bottle feeding your baby:
1. Formula from a bottle is nutritious for your baby
Today’s baby formulas can be just as nutritious as breastmilk. Many types are fortified with iron, a key ingredient in helping to prevent anemia in infants.
Another great benefit of bottle feeding is portion control. With a bottle, you know exactly how much your baby is consuming. You won’t wonder if your child is eating enough or is overeating.
2. Bottle feeding your baby in public has less of a stigma
Unfortunately, mothers who breastfeed still have to deal with the stares and sometimes comments they may receive when breastfeeding in public. The benefit of bottle feeding is eliminating the frustration of dealing with ignorance.
You no longer have to stay indoors to avoid the embarrassment of wanting to feed your child in public.
3. Bonding over a bottle is quality time with your baby
Many mothers may also worry about losing the bonding that can come with breastfeeding. However, bottle feeding can still bring the same type of mother and child bonding that breastfeeding does.
You are still close to your child, able to talk and spend quality time during a feeding. Don’t let the worry of bonding play in your decision to bottle feed.
4. Bouncing back to life a little quicker
Another plus to bottle feeding is that moms can get back to living a normal life a lot sooner. Breastfeeding alters a mother’s daily life due to certain factors that must be considered, primarily in the case of medication. Mothers being prescribed medication must remember to check with their doctor before taking them. Medication can be passed through to baby during breastfeeding. Bottle feeding clears the way for things like medication as well as oral contraceptives. Having the choice to take an oral contraceptive is a concern for many mothers who do not desire to have another child right away.
5. Bottle feeding can be convenient
Bottle feeding is also much more convenient. You can store baby formula easily and it makes traveling a lot easier as well. Ready-made baby formula requires no mixing. You can feed your baby its contents right away which is a time saver.
One of the biggest benefits of bottle feeding is allowing others to help. You can have others feed your baby when you are busy. Or, because they want to share in the experience (such as dad or grandparents helping out during a feeding).
This can be a huge help when you are burned out from the day’s activities and need to catch a nap or are not feeling well.
Mothers who choose to give formula are making the best choice for their baby. Just like breastfeeding, there are many positive benefits of bottle feeding.
Eventually, it will be time to start weaning your baby, which has its own host of things you’ll need to know.
Disclosure: This site contains affiliate links to products. We may receive a commission for purchases made through these links.
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