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Health benefits for your baby
Breastfeeding is the healthiest way to feed your baby. Exclusive breastfeeding (giving your baby breast milk only) is recommended for around the first six months (26 weeks) of your baby's life. After that, giving your baby breast milk alongside other food will help them continue to grow and develop. Breastfeeding is good for babies. Breastfed babies have:

• less chance of diarrhoea and vomiting and having to go to hospital as a result
• fewer chest and ear infections and having to go to hospital as a result
• less chance of being constipated
• less likelihood of becoming obese and therefore developing type 2 diabetes and other illnesses later in life
• less chance of developing eczema

Any amount of breastfeeding has a positive effect. The longer you breastfeed, the longer the protection lasts and the greater the benefits.

Infant formula doesn't give your baby the same ingredients or provide the same protection. Breast milk adapts to meet your baby's changing needs.

Read more about why mothers breastfeed in Why breastfeed? and Health benefits for you.