Human milk or formulas supply the recommended allowances for calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, and other minerals. “Breast feeding is best” is a teaching slogan used by health care providers. Some cultures expect new mothers to breast-feed and actively support their efforts, however, others do not. Each mother’s decision whether to breast-feed is a personal one, determined by a number of individual, family, and sociocultural factors. Breast feeding is a form of feeding where the child, through the mothers breast receives sufficient energy and nutrients which helps with growth and development of the infant. There are some advantages of breast feeding. Human milk is free of contamination by disease producing organisms, is instantly available at the right temperature for the infant, is nutritionally correct for healthy infants, and is usually less costly to produce even though the mother requires additional foods to support lactation. Breast-feeding provides benefits beyond optimal nutrition. Human milk contains a complex variety of anti-infective substances and cells that reduce infections of the gastrointestinal tract and infant diarrheal disease. Also, breast feeding appears to be protective against food allergies. Formula feeding is another form of feeding in which it provides sufficient nutrition for optimal growth and development. Breast milk is the preferred food during early infancy, although current commercially prepared infant formula are adequate alternatives for mother who choose not to breast feed. Formulas are available in several forms and concentrations: single strength, ready to feed, in quart cans, or 4 oz or 8 oz disposable ready to feed bottles; concentrated liquid, which is measured into sterilized bottles and diluted with boiled or clean tap water; and powdered formula, to be diluted with water or added to other formulations as a nutrient/energy booster. At this age, solid foods are intro...
