Advantages and Disadvantages of Breastfeeding vs Bottle Feeding

Breastfeeding vs. bottle feeding formula is a personal choice that every mother or family will need to make. While there’s no right or wrong choice, there may be one that works better for you. In this blog, we’ll review the pros and cons of each to help you decide what’s best for your family. And no matter your choice, the Tushbaby Carrier can be a great aid for bottle feeding, breastfeeding, traveling, bottle storage, and more.

While it’s classified as a hipseat carrier, Tushbaby’s practical design makes it so much more than that. It features five storage pockets, a hideable bottle holder, an open design so you can pick your baby up and down as needed, and it can be used for feeding support, which helps both baby and you stay comfortable. Keep reading to learn more about breastfeeding vs bottle feeding and how both can be a positive experience.

Breastfeeding vs Bottle Feeding

Advantages to breastfeeding

Fighting infections and other conditions: One of the most significant advantages of breastfeeding is the natural immunity a mother passes to their baby through their milk. Breast milk contains antibodies that help babies fight infections and keep them healthy.
Ease of digestion: The enzymes present in breast milk aid in digestion, making breast milk easier to digest than formula. This can mean fewer tummy issues like diarrhea and vomiting.
Nutrition: Nutrients important for your baby’s growth and development, like protein, carbs, and vitamins, can be better absorbed from breast milk than formula.
Free: While self-explanatory, the free cost of breastfeeding is a huge advantage as formula costs are on the rise.
Exposes baby to different tastes: Because breastmilk taste can change based on your diet, your baby will be exposed to many different flavors. This can help avoid a picky eater later on!
Convenience: With breastfeeding, you eliminate the need to prep and clean baby bottles, or have formula on hand. This means you can skip the bottle scrubbing and sanitizing. Plus, breast milk serves as a convenient and ready-to-eat option, with no heating necessary.
Skin-to-skin contact: The skin-to-skin contact experienced with breastfeeding can play a big role in baby bonding, helping your baby feel safe, secure, and comfortable.
Benefits for mom: While skin-to-skin contact from breastfeeding is great for your baby, it’s also a major benefit for mom. The hormone released due to skin-to-skin contact, called oxytocin, can make mom feel more relaxed, which also aids in breast milk production.

Disadvantages to breastfeeding

Personal comfort: Breastfeeding can be tricky to get the hang of. Many mothers and their babies struggle early on with things like latching, making it a rather uncomfortable start. Fear not: a breastfeeding-friendly baby carrier like the Tushbaby Carrier can support you comfortably in an upright position and ensure proper breastfeeding posture while your baby has a plush memory foam-lined pad to lay on. Wear your Tushbaby carrier high and tight above your natural waist, which will allow you to take the strain off your lower back and keep you from leaning forward (which is not a safe breastfeeding posture).
Frequent feedings: Feedings can be frequent, and even more so with a newborn. With the need to stop and feed frequently, it can feel challenging to tackle the things you need to do throughout the day. Good thing Tushbaby allows you to nurse anytime, anywhere, on the go or around the house, sitting or standing up.
Diet: Since what you consume can be passed through breast milk, you’ll need to monitor your consumption of certain things like alcohol and caffeine.
Maternal medical conditions: There are certain medical conditions that can prevent a mother from being able to breastfeed or make it more challenging. It’s best to consult your doctor about any concerns or conditions you may have as you consider breastfeeding.
Having to pump at work: To keep up with milk production, you may find yourself pumping or feeding around the clock. If you’re returning to work, you’ll want to be sure there is a place for you to pump comfortably and that you have something to bring your milk back home in.

Bring along your Tushbaby carrier, which can act as a pump rest so you can *try* to relax while pumping at work. Your Totebaby vegan leather tote bag can also double as the perfect work bag and breast milk transport to and from home; with plenty of space and a removable divider pocket, you can bring along all your pumping and work necessities.

Advantages to formula bottle feeding

Convenience: One advantage to bottle feeding vs breastfeeding is the ability for anyone to be involved in feeding the baby, which means less pressure and stress on Mom.
Flexibility: Without needing to plan for pumping or nursing breaks, you can have a bit more flexibility in your schedule. Simply leaving bottles at home for your baby during the day means no pumping at work.
Time and frequency of feedings: Formula doesn’t digest as quickly as breastmilk, meaning you’ll have more time between feeds than you would if you were breastfeeding. This is especially noticeable in the first few months of life when your newborn will eat more frequently.
No diet changes for Mom: Mothers who formula feed won’t need to worry about their diet now that what they eat won’t be passed to their baby.

Disadvantages to formula bottle feeding

Can’t match the complexity of breast milk: Breast milk has certain antibody and enzyme properties that just can’t be replicated in formula. These properties of breast milk are good for your baby’s digestion, nutrient absorption, and development.
Planning and organization: With formula feeding, you’ll need to plan and prepare to have bottles and formula ready if you leave the house or your baby is in the care of others.
Lack of antibodies: Antibodies play an important role in helping your baby fight off infection. Antibodies found in breast milk, especially in the early months of feeding, can help your baby fight off infection. As mentioned, formula can’t match the complexity of breast milk and lacks the benefit of antibodies.
Cost: Formula can be expensive and add up over time. Compared to free breast milk, this cost will be one your family may weigh if the option to breastfeed is feasible for mom.
Possibility of poor digestion, gas, and/or constipation: Formula can be harder to digest for babies compared to breast milk, which can lead to poor digestion, gas, and other tummy problems. Finding the right formula can take some trial and error, and potentially a few upset tummies and diaper blowouts along the way. Stay prepared by packing extra diapers, wipes, and your portable Changing Pad in your new baby hipseat carrier—aka, Tushbaby.

Now that you’ve reviewed the pros and cons of bottle feeding vs breastfeeding, read more about when to stop bottle feeding or nursing and how Tushbaby products can help make that emotional transition more seamless for you and your family.