All infants benefit from engagement and physical proximity with the parent. Obviously, proximity permits, not matter if you are breastfeeding or not, the parent to detect changes in the babies physiology that might require some intervention. My answer is a little bit qualified, insofar as the process is delivery of milk and breast milk. Studies have shown that when infants breastfeed, they remain more sensitive to what the mother is doing and arouse in relationship to mother's arousal. Similarly, the mother arouses in relationship to the baby. There is a real interesting synchronicity that occurs. I believe that provides a safety net of sorts. My only thing with the bottle is that you don't get that degree of sensitivity. That said, it also depends on the motivation of the mother. You can't account for that protective mother.