Pros and cons of breastfeeding versus bottle-feeding
Breastfeeding is the most preferred method of feeding an infant since it contains the maximum nutrients needed by the child for maximum development. In bottle feeding, the nutrients may not be well balanced, and in some cases, the infant can experience malnutrition due to insufficient nutrients.
Breastfeeding is good for the mother and child because it builds up the immune system of both the mother and the child. For mothers, it reduces cases of ovarian cancer, breast cancer, and diabetes type2. At the same time, in infants, breastfeeding reduces the chances of having ear, throat, and sinus infections and also reduces cases of obesity and overweight. Breastfed infants also have reduced chances of experiencing SIDS, sudden infant death syndrome. In bottle feeding, both the child and the mother do not enjoy the health protection benefits that come from breastfeeding.
Breast milk is ready for the baby when the baby is ready to feed, and it is not exposed to any germs, which reduces the chances of hospitalizing an infant. While the bottle milk it can be misused or have hygiene problems that can cause digestive issues and constipation to the baby. It also takes time to mix and prepare it for the child to partake.
Bottle feeding its helpful for working mums, and one can monitor the amount the baby is taking per feed. Family members can help in feeding the child. This provides them with a chance to talk and bond with the infant emotionally. In breastfeeding, only the mother has the privilege of bonding with the child.
Mothers who breastfeed must be careful with their diet since what the eat is absorbed to the breast milk while through bottle feeding, mothers don’t have to worry about their food.
Gesell test and Bayley scales of infant development
As a parent, through the Gesell and Bayley scales of infant development, one can be able to predict an infant’s behavior and future development. At six months as a parent, one can be able to detect their child’s discomforts and what gives them pleasure. At this age, the infant can be able to reach out for objects that are beyond their reach. At twelve months, the infant can be able to stop certain behaviors when commanded to do so. Also, they can respond to simple requests like come here or take this.
Father and mother ability to care for infants
Fathers and mothers have different ways of taking care of their infants. They are both able to provide the emotional and physical attention required by the child for healthy development. Fathers engage in more rough play than mothers do since they are mostly unpredictable in a game when taking care of an infant. They can throw them in the air, flip them, or tickle them. Mothers, on the other hand, are less physical when playing with their children. They use less exciting methods like singing or clapping with the child.
Factors to consider for the caregiving of a child.
As a parent with options, staying home with the child, or placing them to daycare depends on different factors. These factors include age of the child. If he or she is young like six months and less staying at home with them would be preferable while older children would be much suited to daycare.
The quality of care the child will receive in daycare, one can determine these through characteristics like the number of children in the daycare, the physical environment the infant would be exposed to, the child-adult ratio, or if the caretaker is exposed to specialized training and experience in child care.