Newborn babies have two priorities – to eat and to sleep. The sleeping part is easy, with a little scheduling, but healthy eating requires help from mom and dad and guidance from health professionals.

Proper nutrition helps babies grow and thrive, not only as infants but as they grow throughout life.

More than 81 percent of mothers in the United States have breast-fed their babies at some time; that number is 68 percent in Arkansas. Many factors play into a mother’s decision on feeding, and whether mothers choose the breast or formula, the first week after birth is crucial.

Immediately after giving birth, mothers produce colostrum, a substance full of immune globulins, proteins and minerals that are passed onto babies who nurse in the first three to five days. Colostrum provides protection from environmental pathogens and is often considered the “first natural immunization” for infants.

For mothers who breastfeed or provide breast milk exclusively, this “perfect food” is a balance of fat, protein, cholesterol and other nutrients that aid brain development. Breast milk also helps protect babies from diseases and conditions including asthma, respiratory and ear infections, childhood leukemia and others. It also can reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by as much as 40 percent.

When nursing babies are sick and latch onto their mother, the mother’s body is able to detect that the child is ill, producing antibodies that flow back to the baby through breastfeeding.

Mothers who breastfeed have a reduced chance of developing breast and ovarian cancer, heart disease and diabetes. They also typically avoid postpartum depression and lose their “baby weight” more quickly.

But breastfeeding can be a challenge for some moms, so a hybrid approach is sometimes necessary. Hospital and community support systems can help mothers overcome the difficulties. In other cases, the breast may not be an option, but pumping and bottle-feeding the breast milk is a solution. If a baby can get 25 to 50 percent of its milk from mom, it gets immune protection factors.

In other mothers, breastfeeding is absolutely not an option. In these situations, mother’s milk can be an option through mother-to-mother donors or through milk banks that test the breast milk before it is shipped.

When formula is the only answer, babies can still get the nutrition they need. When preparing formula, parents should be sure to use clean water and to mix the right proportion of water and powder to ensure their baby gets the appropriate mixture of nutrients.

The factors involved in choices about feeding your child are almost endless. But good nutrition, support, plenty of sleep and a lot of love go a long way.

Nancy Embry is a registered nurse and international board-certified lactation consultant with Conway Regional Health System.