Recommendations and Benefits
Recommendations
Breastfeeding
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends exclusive breastfeedingAlert_01 for about 6 months, and then continuing breastfeeding while introducing complementary foodsAlert_01 until your child is 12 months old or older. This provides your child with ideal nutrition and supports growth and development. You can read the full recommendation from the American Academy of PediatricsExternal.
Vitamins & Minerals
Breastfed babies need additional vitamin D and iron. Although breast milk is an excellent source of the nutrition your baby needs, he or she will need to get extra vitamin D (beginning at birth) and iron (beginning at 4 months) from supplements. Learn more at Vitamins & Minerals.
Benefits
Breastfeeding is good for both you and your baby. Breast milk is the best source of nutrition for most babies. As your baby grows, your breast milk will change to meet his or her nutritional needs. Breastfeeding can also help protect you and your baby against some short- and long-term illnesses and diseases.
Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of:
- Asthma
- Diabetes (type 2)
- Eczema (a skin disease)
- Gastrointestinal infections (diarrhea/vomiting)
- Infections (ear, respiratory)
- Inflammatory bowel disease
- Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) for preterm infantsExternal
- Obesity
- Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)
Mothers who breastfeed their babies have a lower risk of:
- Breast and ovarian cancers
- Diabetes (type 2)
- High blood pressure
