The Qur’aan states that children should be breastfed for two years or less by either the mother or a wet nurse hired for that duty. [Qur’aan 2:233]
Breast milk infuses the baby with many benefits. The Prophet (sallallahu alaihi wa sallam) is reported to have attributed his eloquence in speech to the fact that he had been breastfed by Haleema Sa’deeyah. (Focus 13) Research shows that breast feeding has numerous physical benefits as opposed to bottle feeding:
The Journal of the American Medical Association reports that adults who as babies were breastfed for seven to nine months had higher IQ’s than those who were breastfed for two weeks or less. (Time, June 3, 2002)
The same article states that breastfed babies have lower hospital admission rates, ear infection, diarrhea, rashes, allergies and other medical problems than bottle-fed tots. Breast-feeding protects against respiratory illnesses as well. (Dr. Sanjay Gupta, M.D., neurosurgeon & CNN medical correspondent)
Research shows that breast-feeding reduces the risk of cot deaths. (The Muslim Woman)
And for those who breastfeed? In a hadith we are told that when a lady breastfeeds a child, for every gulp of milk she will be rewarded.
Milky Benefits
