Advantages of bottle feeding
- Baby feels fuller for longer. The composition of formula milk is heavier than breast milk and takes longer to digest. You also know exactly how much your baby is drinking.
- More freedom. You are able to bottle feed more freely in public than you would if you were breast feeding.
- Dad can be more actively involved in baby’s feeding. Because your baby doesn’t need you specifically to feed him, dad, granny or a friend can help feed him every now and then. This makes the night time pyjama drill easier to deal with, as mum and dad can take turns feeding. It also gives dad the opportunity to bond more with his baby.
- Less restriction on birth control methods. You will be able to resume taking your birth control pills immediately after the birth.
- Breastfeeding mums have to watch what medication they take, as it can harm their babies.
- Fewer dietary restrictions. You can eat and drink what you like. Breastfeeding mums have to watch what they eat, as spicy food, alcohol etc can affect the baby. You also won’t have to eat extra food, to increase your milk supply.
- Bottle-feeding won’t affect your sex-life (as much). As soon as you’re able to resume love-making, you can pretty much begin where you left off before baby was conceived. A Breastfeeding mum may have to deal with sore, cracked nipples, leaking breasts and a dry vagina.
Disadvantages of bottle feeding
- Your baby isn’t getting the exact nutrition that you’ll provide him with breast milk.
- You have to buy bottles and other feeding and cleaning equipment
- You have to carry bottles and formula milk wherever you go.
- Bottle feeding isn’t as convenient as breastfeeding
- Formula milk can be expensive
- Your baby may develop an allergy to the milk
