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. 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 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 adapts to meet your baby’s needs.
- Breastfeeding releases hormones that help both you and your baby feel relaxed and sleepy.
Breastmilk has everything a baby needs. It contains 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.
Breast milk 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.
Not only does breastmilk change as the baby gets older but it changes from feed-to-feed.
Find inspiration, support, and real-life insights from local parents! Hear from local families in Kent as they share their favourite things about breastfeeding in our stories section.
Formula milk is the best alternative to breastmilk if a mum chooses to, or needs to, bottle-feed. Formula milk is usually made from cow’s milk. Regular cow’s milk 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 nutrition. Visit Kent Baby for more information on bottle-feeding and how to access support from your local health visiting team if you have any questions about feeding your little one.
- ‘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.