Breastfeeding and Infant Nutrition

Breastfeeding is an ideal way to promote and protect health from infancy to adulthood.

The Public Health Agency of Canada, Health Canada, and the World Health Organization recommend:

• Breast milk only for feeding your baby from birth to 6 months
• Continuing to breastfeed for up to 2 years and beyond with the introduction of solid foods

What do we know about breastfeeding?

• Breastfeeding provides warmth and close physical contact, which can help physical and emotional development.
• Your breast milk changes to meet the needs of your growing baby, with the right amounts of protein, carbohydrate, fat, vitamins, and minerals.  It’s the easiest milk for your baby to digest.
• Breast milk contains important antibodies and immune factors that protect against many types of infections and diseases, such as those that cause ear infections.
• Breastfeeding is also important for the parent.  Breastfeeding can help to reduce the risk of breast cancer, ovarian cancer, type II diabetes, and osteoporosis.
• Breastfeeding produces less waste and it’s free.