25+ Amazing Breastfeeding Benefits for Baby
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Breastmilk is well known to be the best food for infants, but did you know that there are many other benefits of breastfeeding for babies beyond just good nutrition?
It's true. In fact, the benefits are not simply impressive — they're truly miraculous.
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends breastfeeding for six months at least. After reading this list of how breastfeeding benefits babies, you'll likely wonder why their recommendation isn't longer than that.
Following is a seriously impressive list of the many ways that breastfeeding benefits baby — not only in infancy, but for years to come. And while this list is truly amazing, there are also many phenomenal breastfeeding benefits for mom as well.
Yes, breastfeeding isn't always easy, but this will surely encourage any mom to do her best to nurse her baby as long as possible.
25+ Benefits of Breastfeeding for Babies
Breastfeeding Literally Saves Babies' Lives
It's been estimated that if breastfeeding were happening at nearly universal levels, about 820,000 children’s lives would be saved every year. Enough said, right?
Meets Child's Emotional Needs
God made it so that a baby will want his mother. When baby is hurt, upset, etc., the little one wants mama. There are many studies showing babies need lots of touch. In my opinion, the best relief comes when the child is reconnected to his mother the way he was just after birth. Nursing mom is a real anchor for the child's soul.
Nourishment When Sick
When little ones are sick, they often don't want to eat.
However, babies will typically want comfort from mom in the form of breastfeeding. Baby will come for comfort and the milk follows, giving baby nutrition and fluids, which can help baby get better faster. It also prevents dehydration in the case of a fever.
I remember being so thankful that I knew my babies were hydrated whenever they had a fever, thanks to them being breastfed.
Less Chance of Multiple Sclerosis
It appears that babies who were breastfed at least 4 months have less of a chance of getting MS than those were not.
Recovers from Illness More Quickly
All babies can get ill, but according to Professor Peter Hartmann of the University of Western Australia, who is an internationally renowned expert on lactation and breastfeeding, “If a baby gets an illness, or his mother does, the protective components in her milk tend to increase,” and “A breastfed baby is likely to recover faster than a formula-fed baby because the mother’s body will produce specific antibodies against whatever infection he’s picked up”.
Higher IQ
There are other articles stating that the reason breastfed babies have a higher IQ is due to breastfeeding mothers having a higher IQ. However, this study made statistical adjustments for mother's IQs and still showed a clear benefit for breastfed babies.
Breastfeeding May Help Prevent Crohn's Disease
It makes sense that providing baby with the ultimate nutrition early on would provide benefits to gut health that would prevent this illness.
Helps Prevent Jaundice
Colostrum, the baby's first milk, acts as a laxative and helps clear the infant's intestines, therefore decreasing the chances of jaundice.
Helps Treat Jaundice
Since frequent stooling reduce bilirubin levels, frequent nursing is recommended for jaundiced babies.
Might Prevent Autism
Autism is growing exponentially, but according to this Japanese study, breastfeeding might protect baby from developing this.
Prevents Infections from Formula
Breastmilk helps infants avoid infections since formula can easily be contaminated.
Prevents Infections from Environment
Breastmilk protects infants from infections since breastmilk contains antibodies against pathogens in the baby's surroundings.
Provides Superior Nutritional Benefits
Breastmilk is more than food — it is a combination of antibodies, enzymes, long-chain fatty acids and hormones, many of which cannot be included in the formula.
Breastmilk Is Linked to Reduced Cases of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome)
SIDS is a truly horrifying situation that no parent wants to face. As it turns out, breastfeeding is linked to fewer cases.
Breastmilk Prevents Urinary Tract Infections
Breastfed infants have fewer incidences of urinary tract infections than their non-breastfed counterparts.
Breastfeeding Increases Fibronectin
Fibronectin is an important glycoprotein that has many beneficial functions in the human body. Breastfed babies may have more of this glycoprotein than non-breastfed babies.
Breastfeeding Plays a Role in Proper Palate Development
The mechanism of breastfeeding helps baby's palate develop properly, which has many benefits for breathing, overall dental health, and more.
Breastfeeding Might Prevent Near-sightedness
Though this isn't completely verified, it seems that breastfeeding might prevent the development of near-sightedness.
Breastfeeding Encourages a Healthy Digestive System
Since breastmilk is more easily digested than manmade formulas, it encourages the development of a healthy digestive system.
Breastfeeding Might Reduce Pain
Whether breastfeeding reduces pain or has some other mechanism of action, this study shows that infants react with less distress during vaccinations when breastfed before and after.
Breastfeeding Reduces the Risk of Obstructive Sleep Apnea
While there might be additional reasons for this, the physical act of breastfeeding provides for optimal development of the dental arches, which in turn reduces the risk of obstructive sleep apnea developing later in life.
Reduces HIV Transmission and Increases HIV-free Survival
Exclusive breastfeeding reduces the risk of HIV transmission and increases HIV-free survival.
Breastmilk Is Custom Nutrition
Formula doesn't change, however, breastmilk continually changes to meet your child's needs at every age.
Breastfed Children Show Greater Motor Activity
Compared with non-breastfed babies, breastfed babies show greater motor activity.
Breastfeeding Associated with Enhanced Stereoscopic Vision
Stereoacuity is the ability to distinguish distance between two objects, and breastfeeding is associated with this enhanced stereoscopic vision at age 3.5 years.
American Academy of Pediatrics and WHO (The World Health Organization) Recommended
Both of these organizations recommend breastfeeding to age two and beyond. Though this “benefit” is more of a “because they said so” reason, the statement is really fascinating, so I wanted to include it.
As you can see, breastfeeding is for sure best for baby.
I'd love to hear — how long did you breastfeed your babies for and how long were you breastfed for?
Did you notice any patterns in your family to back up the information in this post?
I find the mention of jaundice interesting. I never heard of that correlation. In fact, my child had breast milk jaundice. Not breast feeding jaundice (if they aren’t eating enough) or physiological jaundice (premature, blood type, etc) but it was specifically from my breast milk – it lasted 3 months and went away which is typical for this type. My doctor encouraged me to keep breast feeding and we just monitored the bilirubin levels.
I am still breastfeeding my 18 month old daughter. I can tell you right now it is really helping with her teething issues. It usually comforts her when nothing else will. There is just nothing like cuddling up to your baby and sharing that special intimacy.
I totally agree!!!
Hi…..i don’t have much time these days…….but i do NOT believe the article from Japan, rather the study, that says that breast feeding can perhaps prevent autism…..i am 63 and in my day Dr. Spock told all mothers not to breast feed along with lots of other horrendous advice……yet my generation does not in any way have the rates of autism that there are today……
i totally believe in breast feeding…….but i do not think that it can in anyway prevent autism…..it can prevent hosts of other problems for example La Leche league in my day did studies that addiction was so prevalent because of lack of breast feeding……..lack of the solid connection between mother and child…..
lack of feeling filled by love…..
but this about autism holds no water in my book……
just breast feed and eat properly …….. do what God meant us to do……most of the formulars out there are at risk for all kinds of problems…….
why do we need reasons for the way we are created?…….science and big business money too …… don’t get fooled by them……
Peace and light everyone…..
It’s not just an article from Japan. There is more info out there. One of the most prevalent docs in this thinking is Jay Gordon. You can see his book Preventing Autism here (it’s an affiliate link). He says that while a breastfeeding baby might get more toxins in milk (fat soluble ones), the breastfeeding baby is getting prevention from toxins as well and he advocates breastfeeding as long as you can.
Maybe you could check it out of the library, or buy it, and come back and let me know what you think. I think there is a definite link about autism. I think it’s more of a perfect storm issue though….there’s not one thing causing autism but less breastfeeding is one of the factors.
Thanks for sharing! I always enjoy reading posts on the benefits of breastfeeding. I’ve breastfed my first 2 and am looking forward to nursing baby #3 when she arrives. Stopping by from Skip to My Lou 🙂
Welcome. And congratulations!
I’m wondering if in the next couple of posts you could post an actual link to the Weston Foundation pages? While I’m not disagreeing with anything you’re saying here, I’d like to know exactly what their recommendations are, if just for the comparison factor. I thought I found it, but I’m not sure. And if I did find it-is there anyone who can actually follow that diet?
I linked to them in the 2nd post. Did you read that one? Some folks do follow it but my guess is very few do it perfectly.
I did read the other post, and I found a link in some of the other posts linked to at the end of this one. Personally, I don’t know how anyone could afford that diet-I’d probably spend as much on that as I’d spend on formula, especially since we keep kosher.
It is expensive. There are ways to do it but it is pricey.
Adrienne, the article, Watch Your Language, isn’t so much about not making mothers who can’t successfully breastfeed feel guilty. It really has more to do with how saying breast is best puts breastfeeding up on a pedestal and gives the perception that it’s “perfection” and therefore, if it’s too hard formula is acceptable. The formula companies love this! It plays right into their marketing. In fact they’re actually quite happy to encourage mothers to start breastfeeding and then set them up to fail by giving slightly inaccurate information, talking about leaving company to nurse along (making it an isolating activity), emphasizing how often breastfed babies need to eat, even making the pictures of mothers nursing darker and less appealing. They know that moms who start breastfeeding and fail are more likely to use formula for a longer time than mothers who use formula from the start. Breast isn’t best, it’s normal. It’s what mom and baby’s bodies expect at birth. So just shifting our language allows for better acceptance of breastfeeding and having a more accurate view of formula as really a last resort and not just an acceptable alternative.
I think this is just a semantics issue, kind of akin to giving all kids a trophy. I understand the sentiment, but really, saying something is the “best” choice is different than saying it is perfection. I don’t know about all the other women out there, but I am more motivated to breastfeed my kids if I am told it is the best choice than by just being told it is normal. I am motivated by a really good goal more than just giving my kids the typical thing. But after that, I want to be told what I should do if I can’t achieve that goal for some reason.
Getting more info out about the perils of formula and how a mom can augment her supply, and also about great organizations like La Leche League would, I think, be more helpful than just resorting to calling breastfeeding “normative.” But adding that it is natural behavior in addition to it being the “best” choice adds a definite comfort in our culture that views it as something to be hidden in public. Thanks and I hope you understand where I am coming from.
This is a great list! I am so happy that I have been breastfeeding for almost 8 years, the benefits are awesome 🙂
I’m about to start weaning my fourth breastfed child. It is nice not to have to fuss with bottles and such. I hadn’t heard about the MS link. Nice.
Question though: Any advice for how to wean a child with milk protein intolerance (MSPI)? I was thinking of making dairy-free pudding for her to try, which would be creamy, but it wouldn’t have probiotics.
Well, my personal feeling would be not to until you have to. It gets harder from here on out. You could add probiotics to her diet. I guess there are a lot of puddings you could do. There’s a nice coconut one and chia ones on my site you could check out.
I really appreciate #14 Helps Moms Rest now that I am pregnant and breastfeeding my toddler.
Yes – it is good to remember that resting is good. 🙂
Thanks for the list. I’m pregnant with my fourth and looking forward to breastfeeding again.
However, I wonder if the statistic on “breastfeeding prevents breast cancer” may have changed in more recent years? I noticed your source was from 2005, and I’m just thinking of my own personal experience.
I’ve nursed two babies, and was nursing my third, my two week old baby, when I found a breast lump they thought was just milk duct problems on ultrasound. However, two months later I was diagnosed with an aggressive breast cancer at age 31 (about a year ago). However, the Lord Jesus healed me, because when I went for surgery in July, the pathology showed NO cancer! So praise the Lord! And now I am pregnant again.
Just wanted to mention my experience, and wondering if this trend is changing because of our diets, environmental toxins, carcinogens, the effects of the birth control pill, the effects of things our mothers did to their bodies, etc.
Thanks again for the list!
I would think the study’s conclusions would still hold, but that these other issues are for sure contributing towards cancer.