Here, an 18 year longitudinal study of over 1,000 children found that those who were breastfed as infants had both better intelligence and greater academic achievement than children who were infant-formula fed. Breastfeeding and cognitive development in the first 2 years of life. Soc Sci Med . The effect of exclusive breastfeeding on development and incidence of infection in infants. J Hum Lactation .
Breast milk is always ready and comes in a nicer package than formula does.
Breast milk helps pass meconium. Babies are born with a sticky tar-like substance called meconium in their intestines. Colostrum , or early milk, is uniquely designed to help move this substance through the infant's body. Breast milk contains immunities to diseases and illnesses and aids in the development of baby's immune system. Formula provides neither of these benefits.