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LITTLE KNOWN BENEFITS OF BREASTFEEDING
1. BREASTFED BABIES SMELL BETTER
Unlike the stinky stools of a formula-fed baby, the stools of a breastfed infant have a less offensive
buttermilk-like odor. Changing the diaper of a breastfed
infant is not an unpleasant task--which is fortunate, because most breastfed babies have several bowel
movements a day. When the baby looks at the face of the diaper-changing
caregiver and sees happiness rather than disgust, he picks up a good message about himself -
perhaps a perk for building self-esteem.
2. BREASTFED BABIES HAVE NICER SKIN
Many pediatricians who have developed a keen eye and sense of touch over years of examining
babies report that they can often tell by the look and feel of an infant's skin whether or not the
baby is breastfed or formula-fed. The skin of a breastfed baby often has a softer, smoother feel.
There is also less delineation between where the fat under the skin ends and the underlying
muscle begins. The skin of formula-fed babies tends to be rougher with dry, often sandpaper-like,
patches. Breastfed babies feel more solid. Researchers report that the subcutaneous fat in breast
and formula-fed infants actually has a different composition.
3. BREASTFED BABIES HAVE BETTER VISION
Not only does breastmilk build brighter brains and healthier bodies, it's valuable to baby's
vision. Studies comparing breastfed and formula-fed infants show that visual development
(called visual acuity) is more advanced in breastfed babies. This finding is particularly noticeable in
premature infants. The presence of DHA
may be one of the reasons for this. DHA is one of the prime structural components of the retina of the
eye. As with all tissues, the better you feed it, the better it grows and functions. So, the better
you feed the retina, the better the vision, another reason why breastfed babies have a healthier
"outlook" on life. (For more about DHA, see "Breastfeeding Builds Brighter Brains".)
AskDrSears.com is intended to help parents become better informed consumers
of health care. The information presented in this site gives general advice
on parenting and health care. Always consult your doctor for your individual
needs.