Why should you breastfeed? Why not is the better question. This page was written in the interest of supporting and promoting breastfeeding for all moms and babies. UNICEF states that 1 million babies die each year as a result of being fed artificial formula, some die from diarrhea and other intestinal illnesses , some die from malnutrition because their families can not afford to purchase formula, and some die from the illnesses that formula fed babies are more likely to contract. 

The latest recommendation from the American Academy of Pediatrics and the US Surgeon General http://www.4woman.gov/Breastfeeding/index.htm recommends breastfeeding for one year.