Formula contains nutrients but does not contain any of the other components mentioned above. And, the concentration and availability of nutrients are superior in human milk. For example, fatty acids, unique to human milk, may play a role in infant brain and visual development. Breastfeeding can save lives. And human milk may protect premature infants from life-threatening gastrointestinal disease.
Breastfed infants are healthier.
For example, infants who are exclusively breastfed for at least four months are half as likely as bottle fed infants to have ear infections in the first year of life. They are less likely to have diarrhea. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the incidence and lessen the severity of bacterial infections such as meningitis, lower respiratory infections and bacteremia. Breastfeeding is protective against infant botulism. I insulin dependent diabetes mellitus.