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"Breast milk is the mother of all medicines," says Newsweek. "Babies who drink it get the nutrients they need for proper brain development, while lowering their risk of everything from allergies and infections to diarrhea, eczema and pneumonia." The American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Dietetic Association thus urge mothers to nurse their newborn for at least a year. "Yet this exceptional resource goes largely untapped," notes Newsweek. Why? Often because of misinformation. Some mothers worry that they will not produce enough milk to keep their babies healthy. Others think that other foods are needed early on. "The fact is, most moms can meet all of a child’s nutritional needs until 6 months, when solid foods are gradually added to the diet," the article states. "And no matter what else they’re eating, kids as old as 2 can benefit from the antibodies and fatty acids in mother’s milk." There are also benefits for the mothers: Nursing lowers the risk of breast cancer and hastens postpartum weight loss.

"Breast-fed babies are less prone to ear infections and diarrhea, according to a study of more than 1,700 babies ages 2 through 7 months," states Parents magazine. "Researchers at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that a baby who is exclusively formula-fed is nearly twice as likely to develop one of these conditions as a baby who is exclusively breast-fed." While doctors have long felt that breast milk protects against infection because it passes on the mother’s protective antibodies, the study shows that the benefits are significant. Says Laurence Grummer-Strawn, an author of the study: "It’s safe to say that the more breast milk an infant receives in the first six months, the better."

A mother usually has a choice between breast-feeding and bottle-feeding her baby. Breast-feeding, says the United Nations Children’s Fund, is "the superior choice, both physically and economically." Mother’s milk, say experts, is "the ultimate health food," giving the baby "precisely the right concentrations of protein, fat, lactose, vitamins, minerals and trace elements that are needed for harmonious growth." Breast milk also transports disease-fighting proteins, or antibodies, from the mother to the baby, giving the infant a head start in combating diseases.