Benefits of Breastfeeding > for Infant  •  Mother  •  Family  •  Hospital  •  Environment & Society  •  Other

Breastfeeding offers society not only improved health of children and mothers but also economic and environmental benefits.
 

WHO
 

• Is Environment-friendly
  Breastfeeding does not waste scarce resources or create pollution. Breast milk is a naturally-renewable resource that requires no packaging, shipping, or disposal.
   
• Optimum Child Spacing
  Though less of a factor in the Western world, sufficient birth spacing helps with the survival of the older sibling and the new infant. Prolonged lactation helps to promote the spacing of children.
   
• Improved Vaccine Effectiveness
  Breastfed infants showed a better serum and secretory responses to peroral and parenteral vaccines than the formula-fed, whether with a conventional or low protein content.
   
• Financial Savings to Government and Families
  Breastfeeding reduces the cost of healthcare and the need for costly health services that must be paid for by insurers, government agencies, or families.
   
• Medical Expenses
  Breast-fed babies are less likely to need excessive medical attention as they grow.
   
• Food Expense
  Concentrated and ready-to-feed formulas are even more expensive than powdered formula. The cost of artificial feeding has increased steadily over the last 10 years.
  
  The cost to supply artificial baby milk (ABM) to one child is between $800 and $1,200 per year depending on the brand and area of the world.
  
  Reduced tax burden on communities and government to ensure children are properly fed.
   
• More Ecological
  There is less use of natural resources (glass, plastic, metal, paper) and also less waste for landfills.
   
• Less Child Abuse
  A retrospective review of 800 pregnancies at one family practice revealed an association between lack of breastfeeding and physical and sexual abuse of the mother and/or her children. This anecdotal association, has not been previously reported, is worth further study using more rigorous methods
   
• Reduced insurance premiums for both parents and employers
  Breastfeeding reduces global pollution by decreasing the use of resources and energy required to produce, process, package, distribute, promote and dispose of materials created by the manufacture and use of artificial baby milk
   
• Reduced absenteeism in the workplace due to children's illnesses. Breastfeeding reduces the number of sick days that families must use to care for their sick children.
   
• Electricity or fuel are consumed in the preparation of infant formula. Breastfeeding requires no packaging, and its production does not harm the environment.

Benefits of Breastfeeding > for Infant  •  Mother  •  Family  •  Hospital  •  Environment & Society  •  Other