by Sarah Iralcea

Created on: January 23, 2011

The most important thing to remember when choosing between the breast and bottle for your baby is that it is your choice, and your choice alone. Make an informed decision based on research and personal preferences, and be strong. It is nobody else's business how you choose to feed your child, and you should never allow yourself to be made to feel guilty or 'bad' for the decision you have made.

When choosing, you should consider the pros and cons of both decisions. There are many more than can be listed here, but these are the major ones that should be taken into consideration.

Breast pros:

It's natural. New research is always coming up with benefits of both breastfeeding and bottle feeding, but breastfeeding will always be the natural option. Formula makers cannot replicate breast milk 100%. Breast milk is made for babies, and babies are made for breast milk.

It's convenient. No warming bottles, sterilizing, washing, carrying, storing or trying to keep bottles cool. No stumbling around in the middle of the night, being blinded by the fridge light.

It's better for the mother. Breastfeeding mothers lose their baby weight faster than bottle feeding mothers. They're also more likely to take care of themselves and eat properly because they know they need to supply their baby.

Breast cons:

You are the only one who can feed your baby, unless you express milk. This usually means you can't go anywhere without your baby, and the father can't have a chance to feed his child.

Your diet can be restricted. There are some foods and drinks you may need to avoid because they may upset your babys delicate digestion. Alcohol is limited, there are certain medications you cannot take, and you might have to stay away from some of your favourite foods.

It's not always easy. Even though it is natural, breastfeeding is a learned skill and the road to success can be a very long and difficult one. Some breastfeeding advocates insist that if the baby is latched properly, it's impossible for them to cause pain. Others say this is simply not true, and some mothers can find breastfeeding very painful.

Bottle feeding pros:

Someone else can do it. You can have a break, a sleep in, or go out for a day alone while someone else babysits, even if your baby is very young. This time to yourself can be very valuable and help to overcome the stir-craziness new mothers often suffer with.

It's easy to tell how much your baby is drinking. If you're breastfeeding, the only way to tell how much your baby

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