It's the first BIG decision you'll make as a parent: Will you feed your baby from the breast or from the bottle? Eighty percent of new moms follow the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and try breastfeeding. Often called the "perfect food," breast milk offers unique advantages over formula milk. For example, breastfed babies receive infection-fighting antibodies from their mothers, and may tend to be healthier. Breast milk is also more easily digested by a baby's delicate tummy, and the milk exposes a child to varied tastes. The other advantage of breast milk is that it's completely free, and always ready. Nursing is beneficial for mom, too, as breastfeeding hormones encourage bonding with her baby, and stimulate her uterus to shrink back to its pre-pregnancy size. But nursing can be painful for some women, especially at the beginning. In addition, breast milk is often deficient in Vitamin D, a necessary bone-building nutrient for infants. This means that a Vitamin D supplement is usually necessary. Breastfeeding also requires that a mom continue to watch what she eats and drinks, as everything she consumes is ALSO consumed by her baby. For this reason, women who take certain medications and those who have contagious medical conditions may not breastfeed. And since breastfeeding requires more of a mother's time and energy, some women choose to use formula. Convenient and flexible, formula using gets both partners involved in baby feedings. But formula comes with its own set of challenges, not the least of which is cost-about $1,500 for a year's worth! Formula is also timely to prepare, as water has to be boiled and bottles have to be sterilized for every feeding. And because it does not contain antibodies, formula-fed infants may be slightly more likely to get sick, or to suffer from gas or constipation. Some mothers weigh these pros and cons and decide that-while breast milk is best-personally nursing won't work. In such cases, another lactating woman, or wet nurse, may be asked to step in and feed an infant. Although wet nursing was popular in centuries past, today's health organizations do not recommend it, since a mother's milk is formulated for her own infant's age and needs. In light of this, other women decide to use breast milk and formula to feed their infants. This tactic is even RECOMMENDED in some situations: Such as for babies with jaundice, and for those who are slow to gain weight or take to the breast. While there is nothing wrong with supplementing your breast milk, it can backfire if your milk dries up, or if your baby starts refusing the breast. No matter what you end up feeding your baby, however, it's important that you do so often! Newborn babies usually nurse eight to twelve times every 24 hours, while babies over one month eat seven to nine times daily. Note, though, that formula-fed infants may eat less often, as formula moves more slowly through the digestive system. And while feeding your baby may seem complex at first, you, your partner, and your infant, will figure it out fast!