Moms Talk: Breastfeeding or Bottle?

Breastfeeding or bottle? From pregnancy, the question is one that all moms considers.

Each mom chooses a different path when it comes to how she feeds her infant, and here's some insight from moms around Newark who shared what method they chose for their children and why:

Lorie Mohs, mom of two

I actually bottle fed my first son and breastfed my second.  My intention was to breastfeed both children, but my first son enjoyed the bottle more.  The reason I prefer breastfeeding is the numerous health benefits to the baby. I feel that the best time to stop breastfeeding is when you introduce a sipper cup and definitely before the child is a year old.

Jennifer Makin, mom of two

I never judge a mother's choice when it comes to bottle or breastfeeding.  But after breastfeeding both of my boys, I cannot understand why any woman would not give it a strong effort!  The slogan goes "breast is best," and that's really true! What is extremely difficult for most women is that they lack the support they need to truly understand that breastfeeding does not come to most women naturally, even though it is the most natural way to feed your baby.

Before I had my first son in 2005, I was indifferent about bottle vs. breast.  But after having some trials to get things going, I couldn't imagine NOT breastfeeding him.  We did also feed him my expressed milk with a bottle, because I was going to eventually head back to work. The transition back to work when he was nearly six months old was difficult, but I was able to pump twice a day for nearly six months after that and feed him mama's milk until he was nearly one year old.  He did have a little supplementing with formula from about month nine to 12, but I learned that even a little is better than none.

Both of my boys were exclusively breastfed until they were six months old, one until he was about nine months old, then they were both were primarily breastfed, but also supplemented with formula until a year.  I would have kept nursing them if they had let me until they were much older than one!  Each of them were much more interested in the world around them while nursing, and the combination of transitioning to solid food, stress, and pumping eventually slowed my production.  I know a lot of women that have nursed for an extended period of time (up to about three years old).  It doesn't bother me, but after about age 18-24 months, it should be done in private.  When my boys were still babies, I had no issues with nursing in public – it comes in handy while flying and when they get hurt.  There is no better way to soothe your baby.

Breastfeeding and pumping are hard work, but so worth it!

Tammy Warren-Alcorta, mom of five

I bottle fed all five of my kids, and they were off the bottle by 8 months to 1 year. I was unable to breast feed due to personal medical reasons. I feel that choosing to breast feed your child for long periods of time (years) is a personal decision. But all my kids were bottle fed and on sippy cups by the time they were 1 years old or younger.