Are you wondering whether or not you should try formula feeding? There are pros and cons to this method of feeding your baby, and it really depends on your situation.
Formula feeding is a great option for moms who don’t have enough milk supply and there are many great brands that you can choose from. You can even use sites like https://sellformula.com/ to sell any leftover formula that you don’t use. But what other pros and cons are there to formula feeding? Here’s what you need to know.
Pros of Formula Feeding
You Can Purchase The Supply
One of the biggest advantages of formula feeding is that you can purchase the supplies in bulk. This is ideal if you are struggling to breastfeed because your supply isn’t coming in or learn when babies naturally transition from formula. You can feel secure in the knowledge that your baby is still getting plenty of sustenance because you have food that they can consume nearby. It’s also much more convenient than pumping as you would if you were breastfeeding, and it gives your partner fewer excuses not to get up in the middle of the night! Speaking of which…
Feeding Your Child Is a Venture You Can Share With Your Partner
If you are formula feeding your child, then it’s a lot easier for your partner to be involved in the feeding process. This is ideal, since it gives your partner more opportunities for bonding with their child and it also allows you to get a little extra sleep at night since you can share the feeding responsibilities.
You Don’t Have To Create Strict Schedules Around Feeding Your Baby
When you are breastfeeding, you have to follow a fairly strict schedule in order to ensure that your child is getting fed properly. While breastfeeding comes with plenty of benefits, it can sometimes feel a little bit like it’s taking over your life. You won’t have this problem so much if you formula feed. You are not your child’s only food source, so you could leave your child with your partner or grandma if you need to get out of the house for a while as they will be able to feed the baby while you’re gone. You won’t have to pump beforehand either, and you won’t need to manage your work day around feedings if you are returning to work soon after birth.
Your Body Is Yours Again
Most new moms are thankful for pregnancy for bringing them their sweet bundles of joy, but let’s be honest – pregnancy can wreak havoc on your body. Not only that, spending so much time being told what you can or can’t eat, being told you can’t do certain activities and more isn’t always fun! If you intend to breastfeed, you will still have some restrictions on things that you can’t do, like drink alcohol or eat certain things. If you are formula feeding then you can eat and drink pretty much whatever you want to within reason, and it can feel quite freeing to have your body back as completely yours after some of the more gruelling symptoms of pregnancy are gone.
Cons of Formula Feeding
The Stigma of Formula Feeding
The truth is that as long as your baby is fed, that’s the most important thing. You would think that others would fully understand this – after all, not everyone is capable of breastfeeding their children for one reason or another, and that’s totally okay. Unfortunately though, the world can sometimes look badly upon parents who choose to formula feed. If you do plan to formula feed your baby, just know that there’s nothing wrong with that but be prepared for some judgement from other people.
You’ll Miss Out On Some of the Health Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding and formula feeding both come with a lot of health benefits. With that being said, there are some extra health benefits that you will get from breastfeeding that are not present in formula. For instance, it’s generally found that babies who are breastfed don’t have as many infections and are hospitalized less frequently because the mother is able to share her antibodies. Not only that but you will get some health benefits too. breastfeeding can often help with weight loss efforts, and can also help to reduce breast cancer risk, diabetes, high blood pressure and more.
Conclusion
Formula feeding is a great choice for parents, but it’s always a good idea to thoroughly consider the pros and cons before choosing a feeding method. The main thing to remember though is that as long as your baby is fed, that’s the main thing that matters.
