Sure, you’ve heard that breast is best, but here are some interesting facts about how and why nursing is so nifty.

Breastfeeding can make your baby smarter, according to 2002 research that tracked children from babyhood into their teens.

Breastfed babies experience less stress and are less sensitive to pain than babies who aren’t breastfed, according to a study published in the journal Pediatrics.

Breastfeeding can improve your baby’s bone density and skeletal structure, according to research published in Osteoporosis International.

Breastfeeding may help protect your baby against obesity in later life.

Breastfeeding can permanently improve your baby’s immune system, according to a study in Breastfeeding Review.

Breastfeeding can protect your baby against asthma and certain allergies.