As a protection against infections, breast feeding is specailly beneficial. Breast milk contanis antibodies to various bacteria, and babies who nurse are less likely to develop severe and potaintially fatal diarrhea, respiratory diseases and meningitis.One survey of Canadian Indian children showed that the survival rate for breastfed babies was 3 percent higher than for bottle-fed infants.Breast-fed babies also seem to be less prone to allergies.