Every new mother wants what is best for her new child. The months of planning and decision-making are all about trying to create a roadmap to a happy, healthy child. One of the important decisions a mother must make is whether to breastfeed or formula feed her newborn. Although formula may have some benefits for children, breastfeeding has extraordinary benefits that will accompany the baby from infancy to adulthood. Choosing to breastfeed gives a child the opportunity to get a head start toward a healthier, happier life. Breastfeeding can strengthen a child's immune system to protect against illness and can help the child's family economically. It can be difficult to determine which is the best choice for a newborn. However, if a new mother chooses to breastfeed, this choice can carry her baby into adulthood and can benefit the mother as well. Even though formula contains many important nutrients that a newborn and young child needs, formula does not contain some of the more natural nutrients that are beneficial for the young child. Breast milk contains hormones that regulate the child's appetite, which in turn helps prevent the child from becoming obese later in life (Richards 12). In addition to preventing obesity, breastfeeding also reduces the risk of asthma, necrotizing enterocollitis, otitis media, repertory infections, atopic dermatitis, gastroenteritis, type 2 diabetes and sudden infant death syndrome” (Chadha 1) (Breastfeeding trends and updated national data). Health Goals for Exclusive Breastfeeding 760) (Weimer 25). Breastfeeding is able to prevent these diseases because breast milk contains natural antibodies that fight and protect babies against illnesses (Best for B...... middle of paper ...... Gribble, Karleen D . "'As Good as Chocolate' and 'Better than Ice Cream': How Breastfeeding Infants and Elderly Experience Breastfeeding 179.8 (2009): 1067-1082. Web. Medicine.” (2006): 1-5. Web.Jackson, Deborah. “Knowing When to Stop or Just Go With the Flow” The Times May 5, 2005: 1-5. year. » Merced Sun-Star February 14, 2011: 1-2. Web.Richards, Blair. “No one has a formula for why breast milk works so well.” Shame and if we have come to expect too much. of mothers. 23-26. SIRS Internet reporter. 2011.