Benefits for Mom | Benefits for Baby | Benefits for Society

Benefits for Baby

Nutrition
Breast milk is the most complete form of nutrition for infants. It is the source of nourishment recommended by the Canadian Pediatric Society and Health Canada.¹

Decreased Risk for Diseases
Many studies show that breastfed infants have:

• Lower rates of chronic childhood diseases and conditions such as diabetes, celiac disease, inflammatory bowel disease, cancer, allergies, and asthma ^2,3
• Lower rates of acute childhood diseases such as diarrhea, ear infections, pneumonia, meningitis, obesity, and childhood leukemia ³
• Lower rates of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) ⁴
• Better responses to immunizations ⁴

Emotional Development
Physical contact is important for the newborn's growth and development and helps the baby feel secure, warm and comforted. ⁵

Cognitive Development
Results from some studies suggest that breastfeeding enhances cognitive development. ⁶

References:
1. Health Canada (2004). Exclusive Breastfeeding Duration: 2004 Health Canada Recommendations. Retrieved from www.healthcanada.ca/nutriton, June 13, 2006.
2. Riordan, J. (2005). Breastfeeding and Human Lactation. Third Edition. Toronto: Jones and Bartlett.
3. Registered Nurses Association of Ontario (2003). Breastfeeding Best Practice Guidelines for Nurses. Toronto, Canada: Registered Nurses Association of Ontario
4. American Academy of Paediatrics (1997). Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Paediatrics 100: 1035-9.
5. Canadian Institute of Child Health (1998). The First Years Last Forever, 4.
6. Anderson J., Johnstone, B. & Remley D. (1999). Breastfeeding and cognitive development: a meta-analysis. Journal Clinical Nutrition 70:525-35.

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