Benefits of Breastfeeding for Baby and for You: What the Evidence Says

You’ve probably heard that “breast is best.” The real picture is more useful than a slogan. Breastfeeding has well-documented benefits for babies and for the person breastfeeding. Some are backed by strong evidence, others are likely but harder to prove. And the benefits don’t depend on an all-or-nothing approach.

Here is what the major health organizations and research reviews say, explained honestly. For the bigger picture of how feeding works, start with our breastfeeding basics.

What the experts recommend

The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recommends exclusive breastfeeding for about the first 6 months, then continuing to breastfeed as you add solid foods, for 2 years or beyond if you and your child want to. The World Health Organization (WHO) gives the same advice and adds that breastfeeding should ideally start within the first hour after birth.

These recommendations are goals, not tests you pass or fail. Many families can’t or don’t breastfeed exclusively, and that is fine. What matters is understanding what breast milk offers so you can make the choices that work for you.

Benefits for your baby

Protection against infections

This is where the evidence is strongest. Breast milk contains antibodies, especially secretory IgA, plus other immune factors such as lactoferrin, white blood cells and special sugars called human milk oligosaccharides that feed healthy gut bacteria. Formula can’t copy these living parts. You can read more in our guide to what breast milk is made of.

The AAP and CDC report that breastfed babies have lower rates of:

• Ear infections
• Serious lower respiratory infections such as pneumonia
• Stomach infections with diarrhea and vomiting
• Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a serious gut condition, in premature babies

Lower risk of SIDS

Breastfeeding is associated with a lower risk of sudden infant death syndrome. Safe sleep practices still matter just as much: always place your baby on their back on a firm, flat surface.

Longer-term health

The CDC lists lower risks of asthma, obesity, type 1 diabetes and childhood leukemia in breastfed children. The WHO notes that breastfed children are less likely to be overweight or obese and tend to score slightly higher on intelligence tests.

Benefits for you

Breastfeeding has benefits for the parent too, and these are sometimes overlooked. The CDC and AAP link breastfeeding to lower risks of:

• Breast cancer
• Ovarian cancer
• Type 2 diabetes
• High blood pressure

The AAP notes that the protection is greater with longer breastfeeding, especially for the mother. In the short term, the hormone oxytocin released during feeds helps the uterus contract after birth. Many parents also value the closeness, the convenience of milk that is always ready and at the right temperature, and not having to buy formula.

Association vs causation: an honest look

Most breastfeeding research is observational. Researchers compare babies who were breastfed with babies who weren’t, because it would be unethical to randomly assign babies to formula. The problem is that families who breastfeed often differ in other ways too, such as income, education, smoking and access to health care. These differences can make breastfeeding look more powerful than it is.

Good studies adjust for these factors, and some use sibling comparisons or large international datasets. A major 2016 review in The Lancet concluded that the evidence is strong for protection against childhood infections, that breastfeeding is linked to higher intelligence test scores, and that it probably lowers the risk of overweight and diabetes. That review did not find a clear link with asthma or allergies, blood pressure or cholesterol. Health agencies such as the CDC still list asthma, so you will see some differences between sources.

In plain words: the infection benefits are solid. Some long-term benefits are likely but smaller, or harder to separate from other parts of a child’s life. Your child’s health depends on many things, and how they were fed as a baby is only one of them.

Any amount helps

For the latest numbers on how many babies are breastfed, and for how long, see our breastfeeding statistics.

Benefits generally increase with more breast milk and longer breastfeeding, but this is not all or nothing:

• Colostrum counts. Even a few days of breastfeeding gives your newborn concentrated antibodies.
• Partial breastfeeding counts. Combining breast milk and formula still gives your baby immune factors that formula doesn’t contain.
• Pumped milk counts. If your baby can’t feed at the breast, expressed milk still offers most of the same benefits.

If you’re weighing your options, our balanced comparison of breastfeeding vs formula and our guide to extended breastfeeding beyond 12 months may help.

Breastfeeding is a team effort

Benefits on paper don’t help much if you’re struggling without support. The AAP’s 2022 policy calls for paid leave, workplace protections and insurance coverage for lactation support, because so many families stop earlier than they hoped. If feeding is painful, your baby isn’t gaining well, or you’re thinking about stopping because it’s hard, reach out to a lactation consultant first. Many problems can be fixed with the right help. Our breastfeeding support page lists where to find it.

When to talk to a doctor or lactation consultant

Speak to your baby’s doctor or an IBCLC if you have a health condition or take medicines and aren’t sure breastfeeding is safe, if you’re worried about your milk supply, or if feeding hurts. A small number of conditions, such as certain infections and a rare metabolic disorder in the baby called classic galactosemia, mean breastfeeding isn’t recommended, so it’s worth checking with your care team.