The numerous benefits of breastfeeding are not limited to mother and baby. On a larger scale, breastfeeding benefits the entire population in many ways.13
- Breastfeeding is 100% natural – there are no plastic bottles, rubber nipples, or formula containers to sit in landfills.
- Breastfed infants are healthier than babies who were never breastfed. Healthier infants translates to fewer missed work days for employed parents.
- Lower medical costs:
- If 50% of children were exclusively breastfed for the first 6 months of life, at least $3.6 million in medical expenses would be saved.
- This number would more than triple to $13 billion if 90% of children were exclusively breastfed for those 6 months.17