How to choose between breast feeding or formula feeding your baby

0 Comments | Rating: -1 | |

There has been so much debate on this subject, and even when you give birth the nurses and doctors try and push you into breastfeeding. In my own personal experience of being a mother of three, two formula feed and one breastfeed, I feel I can voice my opinion on this matter. While there are scientific evidence that breast milk is better for your baby formula has come a long, long way.

Things You Will Need

Your own thoughts, no one elses

Step 1

When I had my first child I chose to formula feed him because I had to return back to work almost immediately after having him. He was only feed formula and was hardly ever sick other then the occasional and normal cold. Every time I brought him in for his well baby check-ups he was growing perfectly and he was strong and healthy.

Today he is 11 years old and still perfectly healthy and taller then the average 11 year old boy. No health problems, no weight problems, or anything else ever affected him because of being formula feed. He was always perfectly happy and healthy.

Now when I had my second child a girl, I also choose to formula feed her and she was just perfect as well. She has always been petite for her age with her height and weight. Everything else though was great with her. I continued to formula feed her until she was one and a half because she loved formula, and the doctors told me that was fine.
He was a fast learner and was walking at eight (yes eight) months old. Everyone was so amazed how early he did everything, including his doctor. He was strong and healthy with a great appetite. His weight was right on track and his height was above average all the time. He began to talk early and learned quickly throughout his life.

Step 2

She did not want milk so I continued to give her formula and eventually eased the transition into cow' s milk. Today she is 5 years old and she is perfect in every way. Healthy of course besides the occasional cold and just started kindergarten this past year. She is exceeding in every aspect and we are very proud of her.

When I had my third child, I felt I wanted to experience the bond of breastfeeding with him. I now had the luxury of being a full time at home parent and felt I wanted to give it a try. I followed the recommend diet and always watched what I ate and drank. He was always healthy and perfect at his well baby check-ups just like my other two.

I breastfeed him for a full eight months and then transitioned to formula when I felt it was right. Today he is three years old and always above average for his height and his weight. He is a strong and healthy boy that is 100% boy just like my other one. He was also an early walker at nine months old and early talker.

So in my personal experience both breastfeeding and formula feeding are fine. In today's world formula is advanced to how it was in earlier years. Doctors prefer that you breastfeed your baby especially if they are premature, but it is a personal choice that you should not be pressured into.

Step 3

The mother has to make sure she eats appropriately for baby to get the right vitamins and essential minerals. She needs to take in an extra 500 calories a day and they say she loses weight faster when breastfeeding. They also claim that it makes babies smarter and provides skin on skin contact. It is also free and another claim is that it prevents against obesity. So they claim it is beneficial for mother and baby.

Now I have experienced both of theses diets for my children and I think the benefits they pose for breastfeeding are not as effective as they claim. Skin on skin contact for one is up tot he parent. My formula feed baby's where given plenty of skin on skin contact and eye contact, we bonded beautifully during feeding time.

The claim that your child will be smarter is a total myth. My children are all smart and totally on track and even above where they should be. It all depends on your parenting and what you teach them. I personally have read to my children almost every day and always played and interacted with them. They are smart because of what I teach them and what they drank as a baby.

On the obesity claim that is also a total myth! My two children that were formula feed are perfectly where they should be for their age, while my breastfeed baby was always a bit overweight. To this very day my child that was breastfeed is a bit overweight but perfectly healthy just like my two formula feed children.

Step 4

It makes a difference what you feed them as children as well as when they are baby's. I feed all my children a healthy diet and they are all healthy and happy. They all eat great and have a great immune system with no health problems. Diabetes is another thing that they claim can be prevented if they are breastfeed. That simply is a myth as well. My father in law and others that I know where breastfeed as children and all have diabetes today.

What matters is the lifestyle you live and how you feed your children. Simply breastfeeding can not make your child smarter then a formula feed baby! My children are living proof of that! It is a personal choice for you and your spouse to make that NO ONE should pressure you into. I had all sorts of people telling me what I should do, but I knew as a parent what I wanted to do.

Even the doctors and nurses where trying to pressure me into breastfeeding when I did not want to with my first two children. Although I am a stubborn woman at time I almost caved. I had made the decision to formula feed the first two and I stuck to it. It was my decision to give it a try with my third baby and I am glad I did experience both.

When deciding on whither or not you want to breast feed or formula feed, do what feels right for you. No one should judge you or make you feel bad for your choice. If they do then they have their own issues they need to deal with.

In the end it is up to you what you choose to do and it is a lifestyle that affects your children's weight, health issues, and how smart they are. My children are proof that either way is right and it is up to you what you want to do!

Do not let anyone tell you what is best for you, do your research and do what you are comfortable with. The benefits they claim that are in favor of breastfeeding are ....

Protecting from allergies, asthma, diabetes, obesity, SIDS, diarrhea, ear infections, meningitis, and respiratory infections.

They also claim it is easier for baby to digest.