When a mother has her new child, she faces a tough decision: breastfeed or formula feed? Perhaps a combination of both? Many mothers have reservations about breastfeeding because of the time commitment and concerns over producing enough milk, but also fear that formula feeding could impact their baby's health. Are these fears warranted, or is formula feeding a safe and effective alternative to the natural method?
Texas A&M University
Infant formula is a remarkable example of human ingenuity. That it cannot exactly replicate breast milk is clear; that this makes much of a difference in the health of most babies is far less certain.
More women might well choose to breastfeed if public spaces, including workplaces, were more accommodating. More women might also choose to formula-feed if they knew that the putative medical benefits of breastfeeding are largely undemonstrated. Everyone concerned about mothers and babies should work toward ensuring that mothers are well informed of the advantages and disadvantages of different feeding methods. But such an effort will fail if it is motivated by the assumption that all women who care about their babies will breastfeed.
Public discourse on breastfeeding is starkly polarized, and the terms of the conversation, including this one, often militate against productive discussion. The question "should you formula feed?" strips the issue of complexity and forces people into categorical and untenable positions. In the overwhelming majority of cases, feeding choice is not a medical but a social matter.
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