Benefits of Breastfeeding for the Infant/Young Child

1. Breast milk saves infants' lives.
    
2. It is a whole food for the infant and contains all the needed nutrients for his/her first 6 months in balanced proportions and sufficient quantities.
    
3. It promotes adequate growth and development, thus preventing stunting.
    
4. It is always clean.
    
5. It contains antibodies that protect against diseases, especially against diarrhoea and respiratory infections.
    
6. It is always ready and at the right temperature.
    
7. It is easy to digest. Nutrients are well absorbed.
    
8. It protects against allergies. Breast milk antibodies protect the baby's gut preventing harmful substances from passing into the blood.
    
9. It contains enough water for the baby's needs (87% of water and minerals).
    
10. It helps jaw and teeth development; suckling develops facial muscles.
     
11. Frequent skin-to-skin contact between mother and infant leads to better psychomotor, emotional and social development of the infant.
     
12. The infant benefits from the  colostrum, which protects him/her from disease. The colostrum acts as a laxative cleaning the infant's stomach.