Q&A: Are there pros and cons to breastfeeding versus bottle feeding?

This is a very commonly asked question, but I find that most people who ask to compare the merits of breastfeeding versus bottle feeding are actually asking for an opinion about breast milk versus formula (since bottles can be and often are used to feed babies with breast milk and/or formula). With that in mind, I will tell you that breast milk is considered to be the "perfect food" for babies for very good reason, as it is one of the single best things new moms can do for their baby's health (not to mention their own). The American Academy of Pediatrics therefore recommends that all babies be exclusively breastfed (which can include nursing or pumping and then providing breast milk in a bottle) until babies reach approximately 6 months of age. Even after babies are introduced to solid foods, continued breastfeeding is ideally recommended until at least 1 year of age. If you are interested in more information on breastfeeding, formula feeding, or the role that bottle can play in either, I encourage you to look in the "Into the Mouths of Babes" section of my book, Heading Home with Your Newborn; From Birth to Reality.