Nursery World - Positive relationships: A parent's guide to... Breastfeeding

Reassure new mothers on the recommended way of feeding their baby with advice from Annette Rawstrone.

Why should I breastfeed my baby?

Breastmilk provides all the nutrients your baby needs for healthy growth and development for the first six months of their life. It helps to protect them from infection and diseases, such as ear infections, eczema, obesity and asthma, and can also help protect you against ovarian cancer, breast cancer and weak bones later in life.

Breastfeeding also helps you to bond with your baby, both physically and emotionally. An added benefit is that women who breastfeed return to their pre-pregnancy figure faster.

The Department of Health advises that:

- breastmilk is the best form of nutrition for infants

- exclusive breastfeeding is recommended for the first six months (26 weeks) of an infant's life

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