Breastfeeding
It is recommended that babies are exclusively breastfed until around 6 months when they are developmentally ready and in need of extra food. In addition to solid food, they should continue to be breastfed until at least 1 year of age or older.
There are both advantages for the mother and for the breastfed infant.
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Breast milk meets the baby’s nutritional needs completely for the first 6 months of life.
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Breastfeeding reduces baby’s risk of infection
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Breastfeeding reduces the baby’s risk of developing food allergies.
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Breastfeeding is convenient (always the correct temperature and readily available).
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Breast milk is safe from contamination
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Breast milk is free.
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It is harder to over or under feed a breastfed baby.
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Breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS.
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Women who breastfeed have a reduced risk of some types of cancer.
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Breastfeeding helps infant jaw development.
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Breastfed infants tend to be more accepting of new foods as toddlers because they have been exposed to a variety of flavours through the breast milk.