Topic Overview
Infant formulas take two times longer for a baby to digest
than breast milk. The slower digestion of infant formula can affect:
- Feeding frequency. Babies who take infant formula
usually want to feed less often than babies who are
breast-feeding.
- Sleeping patterns. Babies who take infant formula
may sleep longer at night once they are about 2 months old. But babies who
are breast-fed usually catch up shortly after, at about 3 to 5 months of
age.
- Bowel movements. Infant formula causes formed, brown stools
that have a noticeable odor. Breast milk causes loose, yellow stools that have
less odor.
Breast milk, unlike formula, has antibodies. Breast-feeding may lower your child's risk for many
types of infections and allergies. Breast milk may also help protect your child
from some health problems, such as eczema, asthma, and diabetes. For more information, see the topic Breast-Feeding.
Credits
| By | Healthwise Staff |
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| Primary Medical Reviewer | John Pope, MD - Pediatrics |
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| Specialist Medical Reviewer | Thomas Emmett Francoeur, MD, MDCM, CSPQ, FRCPC - Pediatrics |
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| Last Revised | August 1, 2011 |
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