For most infants breastfeeding provides the best source of nutrients and protection from illness.
While a new study from the American Academy of Pediatrics finds that fewer hospitals are sending new moms home with samples of infant formula than in the past, the majority still do.
Studies have shown most moms say they want to breastfeed but they may give up nursing in favor of formula if breastfeeding isn't going well right away.
The researchers say when hospitals give mothers free formula; it's as if they are encouraging formula feeding.
Health officials recommend infants be fed breast milk exclusively for the first six months of life.
If possible, they say, moms should continue to nurse their child until the baby is at least a year old.
That's because breast milk has been called the perfect food source for babies.
It provides antibodies to help newborns ward off illness until the immune system matures enough to produce their own.
Mom's milk also provides important hormones that help baby regulate how much it needs to eat.
Plus, studies have shown that breastfeeding reduces diarrhea, ear infections and bacterial meningitis and cuts the risk for sudden infant death syndrome, diabetes, asthma and obesity.
Mom and baby need time to learn how to breastfeed, so if you are having problems, seek help from a health professional.
