A recent study conducted at Oxford University (Millennium Cohort Study) published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood found that breastfeeding is associated with fewer behavioral problems in children. The study looked at 10,037 mother-child pairs. Of these, 9525 were term children and 512 were preterm. The parents were interviewed when the children were 9 months old and asked about the duration of breastfeeding (partial or exclusive). The children were then re-evaluated at the age of 5. The evaluation consisted of a parent-completed questionnaire known as the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ). Breastfeeding duration was then compared with the Questionnaire answers and the term and preterm children were evaluated separately using logistic regression. Term children who were breastfed for at least 4 months had lower odds (odds ratio) of having an abnormal total score on the SDQ. Term children were also less likely than preterm children to have abnormal SDQ scores.
This data clearly suggests that breastfeeding reduces the risk of behavioral problems in older children. According to the authors, “ It is possible that increased intake of essential fatty acids from breast milk leads to improved neurological development and behavioral learning and thus fewer behavioral problems.” It is also believed that breastfeeding leads to more interaction between the mother and the baby and this leads to better communication which improves development.
For the full article please visit: http://adc.bmj.com/content/early/2011/03/24/adc.2010.201970.long
