The birth of a baby is often filled with anticipation, joy, and at times confusion. One of the major decisions that new parents must make is how to feed their baby. There are two choices to decide between when feeding a newborn, breastfeeding or bottle feeding. There are pros and cons to both methods of feeding, so take the time to research well before the baby is born.

Breastfeeding is how nature intended babies to be fed. Feeding a newborn this way will help to ensure that he is receiving the most nutrients and it gives mom some special cuddle time with her baby. Although very healthy for both mom and baby, breastfeeding can be difficult at times so it’s important to have a support group you can turn to. If possible, invest in a hospital grade double pump to express breast milk. You can freeze it to use it later, or take it with you when you go out so you don’t have to find somewhere private to nurse.

Bottle feeding is very popular today with many busy mothers. Feeding a newborn this way allows mom much more free time than she would have if she had chosen to breastfeed. Other people can help feed the baby and it’s so convenient to take a can of formula with you when you’re out and not have to worry about the milk spoiling. With breast milk you have to use it quickly or it will go bad. Formula is convenient, but you are charged for that convenience because it is very expensive. Your local discount warehouse store should carry their brand of formula that will save you a lot of money in the long run. By comparing that formula with the more expensive brands, you will see that they are almost exactly equal in most of the nutrients.