Breastfeeding vs Formula Feeding: Advantages and Disadvantages

Out of all of the things mums worry about, from how to keep baby groomed and clean to how much sleep their little one is getting, how to keep their babies well-fed has to top the list. Though every mother wants her baby to be happy and healthy, there are instances where traditional methods of feeding might not happen. For those reasons, it is imperative that mothers are educated on the various ways in which they can support their growing babies and beloved children using sundry methods depending on the need. And that is why, we at Yellodoor are happy to present to you the many breastfeeding vs formula feeding advantages disadvantages so you can make the decision best for you and your little one.

Breast Pump vs Formula Feed

As mentioned, there are many ways in which mothers can successfully feed their children without feeling guilty about the mode they choose in the process. One of those ways is to use a breast pump to bottle feed their baby or to use formula. While we won’t go into too much detail about the differences between the two until later, it is important to note that even if you choose to breastfeed, you can still reap the benefits of using a bottle without feeling like you have to use formula.

Breastfeeding vs Formula Feeding Advantages Disadvantages

Now, for the nitty-gritty. We’ve got everything you want to know about breastfeeding vs formula feeding advantages disadvantages. So, let’s get to it.

Breastfeeding Advantages

Make no bones about it. Breastfeeding advantages are plentiful.

Apart from breastfeeding helping mum lose the baby weight, here are a few of the most well-known advantages to feeding your baby breast milk:

Free
Helps Mother Recover Faster
Immunity Building For Baby
Offers Bonding Opportunities
Easily Digestible
Good For Baby’s Brain
Highly Nutritious
As Natural As It Gets

Breastfeeding Disadvantages

And while the aforementioned pros of breastfeeding are many, there are several drawbacks to breastfeeding. If you are wondering what are 5 disadvantages of breastfeeding, we’ve got at 6 to help you with.

Can Create Stress and Anxiety When Returning to Work
Use of a Breast Pump May Be Required Depending on Lifestyle
Sore, Cracked or Bleeding Nipples, Especially in the Beginning
Engorgement
Time-Consuming
Milk Supply Monitoring

Formula Feeding Advantages

So, why is formula feeding better than breastfeeding? Depends on who you ask. Nevertheless, there are reasons that formula feeding may seem comparably better than breast milk in some ways. Those ways include the following:

Can Keep Baby Full For Longer
Baby Will Be Unaffected By Mother’s Diet
Feeding in Public Is Less Controversial
Can Be Convenient In Certain Scenarios

Formula Feeding Disadvantages

You knew it was coming! With all of it’s benefits, formula feeding definitely has its disadvantages. They include:

Not a Natural Source of Nutrition
Lacking Antibodies in That Are in Breast Milk
May Cause Digestive Issues
May Cause Constipation
Will Require Preparation and Planning Ahead
Increased Risk of Reflux
Expensive

Breastfed vs Formula Fed

As you’ve likely already figured out, the pros and cons of breastfeeding versus formula-feeding will depend heavily on your needs, the baby’s needs and your lifestyle.

To start, breast milk is fast, free and easy… for the most part. It is a portable way of feeding your baby, and is packed with nutrients to keep your little one healthy and satiated. Moreover, breast milk can make your baby immune in a sense, as it provides the antibodies necessary to ward off icky illnesses down the road.

Having said that, formula can give breast milk a run for its money in terms of feeding frequency. In fact, some studies show that although breast milk tends to be healthier for babies, it is the formula that stays in the baby’s gut for longer that can, at times, enable the baby to sleep for longer periods of time than one that is exclusively breastfed.

Moreover, formula fed babies won’t be affected by mums diet, and the other parent or caregiver can get in on the feeding and bonding action whenever they like whenever formula is on the scene.

But are all of the benefits of formula really all that they are cracked up to be? Let’s be honest, no scientist can ever truly replicate nature. The antibodies and other benefits found in breast milk can’t, and haven’t been, duplicated in any formula, no matter how fancy, or pricey, the formula might be.

Parents spend hundreds, and sometimes, thousands, trying to feed their babies on formula alone, and have to deal with the hassle of making up bottles and keeping them at the right temperature for the babies to take when they are hungry.

Additionally, formula-fed babies may tend to be more constipated and manifest other digestive issues more often than those that are not. To learn how to help transition your little one from breast milk to formula with less digestive issues, check out our blog post.

Bottle vs Breastfeeding

As noted earlier in the segment, there are more options available to you than simply breastfeeding or formula feeding. There’s combination feeding and bottle feeding pumped breast milk.

When choosing to express breast milk, bottle feeding would have all of the benefits that feeding formula would, only with the added bonus of not having to do any measurements when you are making bottles.

You also won’t have to deal with the common digestive issues that come with using formula alone and, wonderfully, your baby will be able to reap all of the glorious benefits packed within your breast milk.

The downside? Feeding the baby from the bottle rather than the breast may put a damper on the bonding process between you both. Moreover, your milk supply may decrease unless you make certain to pump at around the time your baby feeds, even when you are bottle feeding your baby, to keep your milk supply established. Even then, because the baby is much better at suckling milk than a breast pump would be, you may still find your milk supply waning.

Nevertheless, if you’ve got cracked, bleeding or sore nipples, have underlying health issues, or just need a break, then a bottle is likely the way to go for you.

Is It Better to Breastfeed or Formula Feed?

So, is it better to breastfeed or use formula?

In terms of your baby’s health, we’ll have to say that breastfeeding wins out.

Breast milk contains so many benefits to your baby. Formula will never achieve these benefits, from immune-boosting antibodies, to fat, vitamins and nutrients. Your baby needs all this to grow strong.

Moreover, the intimate connection between your little one and your body’s delicate, wondrous and natural milk production system all work harmoniously to provide the best meal possible for your baby to consume at such a young age.

In terms of lifestyle, however, the verdict as to whether or not breastfeeding or formula-feeding is best determined in terms of what the mother and child need most.

There are times when the mother simply cannot supply the breast milk her baby needs, for one reason or another. Whether she has low milk supply, has an underlying health issue, is going back to work or has another situation going on, the mother must be able to sustain the feeding schedule of her child in a way that is both feasible and practical. Thus, formula-feeding has an obvious advantage in many cases over breastfeeding, especially when issues with milk supply are present.