A public health measure that impacts children’s development all over the world, among many, is breastfeeding. Breast fed babies have nutrient milk that prevents from sickness and benefit from the connection with the mother. Babies from all over the world benefit most from breast milk. “Babies who are exclusively breast-fed are less likely to get sick, because breast milk provides them with the antibodies against any disease to which the mother is immune” (Berger, 2009). Research and health promotion in countries are urging mothers to breast-feed longer before turning their child’s diet to formula. Not only the awareness of the physical benefits becoming more widespread so is the mental health of the infant. “Breast milk … is a mild sedative, so the newborn literally feels happier at the mother’s breast, connecting pleasure with taste, touch, smell, and sight” (Berger, 2009). The infant bonding that comes from this experience is also good for their mental health. In a town in northeast England they successfully used social marketing to increase breastfeeding to promote the health of children (Lowry, et. al., 2009). “The World Health Organization recommends that babies should be breastfed exclusively for six months" (Lowry, et. al., 2009).
References:
Berger, K. S. (2009). The developing person through childhood (5th ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers
Hi
ReplyDeleteAfter reading your post I thought about how much money, people could save when they breastfeed their babies,this is an additional benefit along with all of the others benefits from breastfeeding.
Saving money, yes! Close to my seconds son's first birthday our family went through a traumatic incident and I was still supplementing his meals with breast milk, well because of the stress I completely dried up. We bought formulas just to supplement his meals and I was amazed at how much money I had saved by nursing both my sons. I had never done the math before because I had no reason to. Yes a great money saver :)
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