A study appearing in the July edition of the journal Pediatrics made the following conclusion: "It would therefore appear that 100% full breast-feeding of 4-month-old infants would avoid 56% of hospital admissions in infants who are younger than 1 year." The primary cause of hospitalization that is prevented by breastfeeding is infectious disease. As the infant's immune system is maturing during the first year of life it is vitally important that the infant gets antibodies and other immune-enhancing compounds from mother's milk. It is equally important that foods other than breast milk be avoided until the infant's gut matures (single foods can be introduced in a healthy 4-month-old). Another important component of mother's milk is bacteria. It boggles my mind to hear that some mothers choose not to breast feed their babies. It also boggles my mind that people still drink pasteurized, homogenized milk when raw milk is available. Raw Milk is an incredible health food--full of the same beneficial bacteria and immune system-enhancing compounds that an infant needs to thrive! Read the study.