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To conclude the episode of infant's feeding, here are a few facts: Of 40 breast-fed babies and 66 bottle fed babies, a test conducted from birth to 6 months produced the following results, breast-fed babies were taken to the doctor on an average of 1.6 times, due to illness. Bottle fed babies visited the doctor on an average of 2.8 times during the same period (nearly twice as often) Mother's milk cannot be duplicated and fluctuates according to the babies needs. Bottle fed babies who are fed cow's milk often have indigestion and gastric disturbances. This is because cow's milk is not suitable for the baby's digestive system. Cows milk contains more fat, more calcium and much less tryptophan (an amino acid) and lecithin than mother's milk. Tryptophan and lecithin are used in the building brain and nerves. Calcium is employed in building bones. This is why cows milk has it's components A cow's bone structure grows rapidly, and its brain and nervous system are not highly or delicately organized. On the other hand, a baby is relatively small of bone and has a large, highly organized brain with perfection of senses and bodily control. Babies fed on cow's milk primarily have softer brains and are less likely to be as intelligent as breast fed babies. The excess of fat and cream in cow's milk also produces digestive disturbances in babies. Cow's milk also contributes to hardening of arteries and high blood pressure later in life. It also causes low blood calcium in the new born, an overload in the infant's kidney from having to expel the excess protein, diarrhea, respiratory infections, etc….Tonsillar and adenoid troubles are also common with babies fed cow's milk. COLOSTRUM comes into a woman's breast before giving birth and remains there for a few days after the baby is born. Colostum contains half the carbohydrates and fats of regular breast milk and a newborn has difficulty in digesting it. Colostum is especially adapted to meet the needs of the new-born. Drinking excess of cow's milk on the part of the mother, rather than providing much calcium actually drains the calcium resources of the body. Fresh green vegetables should rather be consumed to keep the calcium level high. Sometimes there are good reasons why a mother can not feed her infant, in which case goats milk is a better choice. Remember never to combine milk with any other foods. When milk is mixed with foods, it can cause dyspepsia and constipation. The first symptoms of indigestion are "nervousness" irritability, bad breath, bloated bowels, coated tongue, cold feet, constipation, colic, hives, sleeplessness, grinding of the teeth in sleep, drooling. There will be undigested curds in the stools and often foul stools. White curds in the stools indicate that the baby is getting more milk than it can digest and is being overfed. The protein content of human milk is about 1/3 as much as in cow's milk, and is mostly albumin- while the protein in cow's milk is mostly casein, which forms large, tough, dense, difficult to digest curds, which are adapted to the 4 stomach bovine digestive apparatus. Mothers milk forms very small, soft curds which are easily digested by the infant. Cows milk is deficient in iodine, iron, phosphorus and manganese. Human milk contains much more ( than any other milk ) of the 2 amino acids, CYSTINE & TRYPTOPHAN, characteristic which render it superior for the human infant. Human milk contains up to 6 x as much SELENIUM and 2X as much vitamin E as does cow's milk. Mothers milk also provides important protective factors not available from any formula. 2 substances, LACTOFERRIN & TRANSFERRin, prevent potentially harmful bacteria from growing in the intestinal tract. Finally, breast milk contains LYSOZYMES, enzymes that attack and break down harmful bacteria as well as substances known as "BIFIDUS FACTOR" which promotes the growth of protective bacteria in the infant's body. Comparison table Soya milk Dairy milk Human milk water (grams)88.6 88.6 88.6 protein 4.4 2.9 1.4 calories 52 59 62 fat 2.5 3.3 3.1 carbohydrates3.8 4.5 7.2 ash 0.62 0.70 0.20 calcium (mg) 18.5 100 35 sodium 2.5 36 15 phosphorus 60.3 90 25 iron 1.5 0.1 0.2 thiamine 0.04 0.04 0.02 riboflavine 0.02 0.15 0.03 niacin 0.62 0.20 0.2 I assume that all the above evidence is enough to persuade every mother to breastfeed her newly born infant !