The Market Monitor Minding the Nation's Business
Canberra—Breastfeeding should be encouraged over feeding newborns with baby formula, as an overreliance on formula could put the health of children and their mothers “at risk” in the future, researchers from Australian National University (ANU) said last Thursday.
Dr. Phillip Baker, one of the researchers, said there had been a dramatic jump in the sales of baby formula, particularly in the Asian market. He warned that many infants might not be getting the nutrients needed to grow and develop properly.
The World Health Organization recommends infants to be exclusively breastfed for up to six months—with ongoing breastfeeding for up to two years and beyond—to ensure that they get the “best start” in life.
Baker said a demanding lifestyle, particularly in China and Southeast Asian nations, could be preventing many young mothers from having the time to breastfeed, while company policies might also be unsupportive of the practice.
He said it was important for both the child’s and mother’s well-being that breastfeeding is practiced.
“Paid employment is a very good thing for families, especially those living on the bread line. The problem is that, without paid parental leave or family-friendly workplaces, breastfeeding can be very difficult or even impossible,” Baker said.
“Without supportive workplace policies and regulations in place, formula feeding is often the only choice available to parents in many countries,” he added.
ANU has called on governments and doctors to recommend breastfeeding over baby formula, as many formula companies were taking over due to relentless marketing campaigns.
Baker said it might just be a case of many mothers simply not knowing better.
“The decision to breastfeed or formula feed should be an informed choice made in dialogue with a health professional, not by the marketing of a formula company,” he said. “Ultimately the health of moms and kids is at risk, and governments need to do more.” PNA/Xinhua