Responsive breastfeeding

It is well known that breastfeeding is the best way to feed an infant and has many short-and long-term benefits for both mother and baby. However, did you know that breastfeeding seems to support infant's ability to self-regulate their energy intake?⁵ This suggests that breastfeeding could be associated with better appetite regulation later in life.⁶

It is thought that the physical act of breastfeeding rather than just the breast milk, is associated with better appetite regulation:

1. Infants fed breast miIk from a bottle, rather than directly from the breast, were 67% less Iikely to respond to their own internal satiety cues.⁶ They also gained more weight, which could be linked to obesity in later life^7,8
2. Breastfeeding is a naturally responsive way of feeding⁹
3. Throughout the course of a feed milk becomes denser in fat.¹⁰ This higher fat content is more satiating and signals to baby to end the feed.¹¹ This helps baby to regulate their appetite. 

You should note that some mothers either cannot or choose not to breastfeed. For these mothers, feeding responsively is still possible from the bottle.