Benefits of Breastfeeding

This page was reviewed or revised on Thursday, August 16, 2007.

Children's Services Department

The First Year of Life...

Breastfeeding gives babies the best start and protects the mother's health.

Benefits for baby:

• Less eczema

• Protects against diarrhea and tummy upset

• Improves mental growth

• Protects against chest infections and wheezing 

• Lowers risk of diabetes

• Protects against ear infections

• Better mouth structure

• Straighter teeth

• Lower risk of SIDS

Benefits for mother:

• Faster return to pre-pregnancy figure
• Lower risk of ovarian cancer
• Lower risk of breast cancer
• Stronger bones
• Lower risk of iron deficiency - anaemia

Other Benefits:

• Cheaper than bottle feeding
• Diapers not as smelly
• Contributes to a healthier weight

The Second Year of Life....

Benefits for baby:

• Breast milk can still give many of the calories your baby needs.

• Breast milk is high in fat. It is a key source of energy and essential fatty acids for brain development.

• Breast milk prevents a shortage of vitamin A between 12 and 36 months.

• Babies will breastfeed when they have diarrhea and a fever even when they refuse other foods. This keeps fluids levels high and helps them get better.

• Illness and death are lower in children who breastfeed until age 2 or 3.

• Human milk helps your child fight germs.

• Breastfeeding has been found to improve oral development (mouth and teeth) in children.

• Breast milk helps to protect children with food allergies.

Benefits for mother:

• Breastfeeding delays mom from becoming pregnant again.

• Breastfeeding lowers the risk of hip fractures (Riordan & Auerbach, 1999).

• Breastfeeding helps the mother lose weight and reach a healthy weight (Riordan Auerbach, 1999).

• Breastfeeding comforts a toddler when they are tired, upset, sick or hurt.  Extended breastfeeding can make mothering a toddler easier during those times (LLL).

Worthwhile Website:

Nutrition for Healthy Term Infants - Statement of the Joint Working Group: Canadian Paediatric Society, Dietitians of Canada and Health Canada

http://www.hc-sc.gc.ca/fn-an/pubs/infant-nourrisson/nut_infant_nourrisson_term_e.html