
Formula, bottles, nipples, liners and misc. utensils. The costs
add up quickly. The American Academy of Pediatrics, in their recent policy statement, report that the
1993 cost of purchasing infant formula was $885 for the first year alone. If you
consider that a quite superior product is available at no cost, and considering the
millions of infants being fed in the USA at any one time, this is, at the very least, a
real waste of our GNP.
And our tax dollars. It was reported that the US government spends over $600 million
a year to provide formula for its WIC (Women, Infants and Children) supplemental food
program. WIC actually provides free infant formula to 37% of all infants born in the
USA. Free to the mothers, but of course the formula companies are getting their $600
million. I wonder what we are spending on breastfeeding support under this program?
This doesn't touch on the increased health costs of the formula fed baby. A 1995
study by Kaiser-Permanente Health Maintenance in North Carolina found that the formula-fed
baby averaged $1400 more annually in medical costs than their breastfed counterparts.
Here's a thought, if you take the approximately $2000 you would spend on formula and
supplies during your child's infancy, put it into the child's bank account or trust fund,
at 9% interest you'll have over $10,000 when your child turns 18! Your breastfeeding
can help pay for college! Your breastfeeding can help pay for a month on Hawaii when
they leave home! Whatever!

Learn about more benefits of breastfeeding at Disease
Prevention, Your Child Will
have Fewer Allergies and Breastfeeding
is Ecological here at Breastfeeding.com.
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