Supercharge Immunity
Boost your baby’s defenses with nature’s tailor-made immune support.
Why breastfeed?
Breastfeeding brings
more than
Simple Nutrition
Serve up the perfect meal, packed with all the nutrients your baby needs.
Bond Beyond Words
While nourishing your baby, you’ll connect deeply and create an unbreakable emotional bond.
The Power of Breastmilk
Breastmilk has everything a baby needs. It contains water, vitamins, minerals, fats and carbohydrates for nutrition. It also contains additional substances which aren’t found in formula milk: hormones, growth factors, immunological factors, protective factors and essential fatty acids help the baby grow, sleep, and fight infection and disease. It’s pretty amazing stuff!
First milk is full of goodness
Breastmilk has an amazing ability to change to give your baby exactly what they need. The first milk you make after giving birth is called colostrum. It is very concentrated and packed full of antibodies and immune cells, boosting your baby’s immune system from birth. Milk changes from colostrum to mature milk over the first few days. You might leak milk don’t worry if you don’t notice anything, this isn’t a sign you don’t have enough milk for your baby.
Your milk changes to suit your baby’s needs
If a baby is sick, the milk will have antibodies to help fight infection. On a hot day, your milk will be more watery to quench your baby’s thirst. Not only does breastmilk change as the baby gets older but it changes from feed to feed. Breastmilk is all a baby will need until they are six months and then women can continue to breastfeed alongside introducing solids.
Breastmilk is
- free and convenient: you don’t need formula milk, bottles, teats or sterilising equipment
- always available, with the right ingredients at the right temperature, so it’s easier to feed at night or on the go
- it’s environmentally friendly because there’s no manufacturing, packaging or waste.
Breastfeeding also helps
- you form a bond with your baby
- everyone get more sleep, as you don’t have to get up at night to prepare bottles plus breastfeeding releases hormones that make you and your baby feel sleepy.
Benefits of breastfeeding
Antibodies in breastmilk help protect your baby from illnesses including:
- vomiting and diarrhoea
- ear and chest infections
- kidney infections
- cow’s milk allergy, asthma and eczema
If breastfed babies do become ill, evidence shows that the illness is milder and passes more quickly.
Babies who are breastfed have lower blood pressure and lower total cholesterol later in life. They are less likely to have childhood diabetes, childhood obesity and heart disease. Breastfeeding also helps support brain development and is thought to increase IQ and reduce behavioural problems.
Breastfeeding and oral health
It’s a good idea to look after your baby’s oral health. Breastfed babies have a lower risk of developing tooth decay.
Breastmilk:
- contains antibacterial properties which actively help to neutralise bacteria which can cause tooth decay
- contains fatty acids that reduce inflammation
- contains proteins that help to build strong jaw muscles.
Breastfed babies also have a lower risk of needing braces later in life.
You can read more about the importance of looking after your baby’s oral health here.
Women who have breastfed are at a lower risk of:
- breast cancer
- ovarian cancer
- osteoporosis (bone thinning)
- type 2 diabetes
- endometriosis
- breastfeeding also helps you regain your pre-pregnancy weight more easily.
Breastmilk has all the nutrients and water your baby needs, in the right amounts for the first six months of your baby’s life. A breastfed baby doesn’t need anything else.
- Babies have very delicate digestive systems that are designed to drink their mum’s milk
- You can’t overfeed your baby when breastfeeding. Overfeeding your baby, which can happen with bottle feeding, can cause a tummy upset
- Breastmilk protects your baby from infections and diseases, both immediately and throughout adulthood
- Breastfeeding lowers your risk of developing illnesses such as breast cancer, postnatal depression and heart disease
- Breastmilk is ready when you need it, no preparation or costs involved
- Breastfeeding can help you and your baby form a strong bond
- Breastmilk is dynamic and adapts to meet your baby’s developmental needs.
Breastmilk continues to benefit babies when you start introducing solid foods from six months.
Formula milk is the best alternative to breastmilk if you choose or need to bottle feed. It’s usually made from cow’s milk which can’t be digested by babies so the milk has to be altered first. Other ingredients such as soy protein and fish oils are added for extra nutrition. NHS.uk has a guide to making up formula milk safely and there are some more tips below.
- ‘First infant formula’ is the only formula suitable from birth. You can continue to give this to your baby up to one year before moving on to normal cow’s milk.
- ‘Follow-on milk’ is not suitable for babies under six months. You don’t need to change to follow on milk after six months.