Health benefits of breastfeeding babies

Date published: 05 August 2025

Breastfeeding has many important health benefits for both mother and baby. Any period of breastfeeding, however short, will benefit your baby. People are being asked to show support for mums who breastfeed.

Support for breastfeeding mums

Breastfeeding isn’t just a one-person task. It’s the mums who feed, but fathers, partners, families, workplaces, and communities can show their support.

That support includes:

encouraging a partner, friend, sister, or daughter who is feeding
bringing them a drink
preparing meals
doing housework
protecting them from others’ negativity towards breastfeeding

These things all mean a lot to a mum who can then get on with feeding their baby.

Breastfeeding in public

For many mums, getting started isn’t easy and that’s why support is crucial.

This includes making mums feel more comfortable about feeding in public.

The 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' scheme aims to help mums feel more comfortable about feeding their baby in public.

You can find a list and map of 'Breastfeeding Welcome Here' places, along with other advice about breastfeeding, on the Breastfed Babies website.

Benefits of breastfeeding

Antibodies in breast milk help protect babies from infection and other illnesses.

Mums who breastfeed are at a statistically lower risk of developing:

breast cancer
ovarian cancer
osteoporosis (bone thinning)
type 2 diabetes

You can find out more on the breastfeeding page.

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Health benefits of breastfeeding babies

Support for breastfeeding mums

Breastfeeding in public

Benefits of breastfeeding

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment

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Health benefits of breastfeeding babies

Support for breastfeeding mums

Breastfeeding in public

Benefits of breastfeeding

More useful links

Help improve this page - send your feedback

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What to do next

Carer's Allowance

Discretionary support / Short-term benefit advance

Disability Living Allowance

Employment and Support Allowance

Jobseeker’s Allowance

Personal Independence Payment