Breastfed Babies More Intelligent

Breastfeeding may make your child smarter, new research shows.

The study looked at nearly 14,000 children in Belarus. Results showed that children who were breastfed exclusively (without supplementary bottles of formula) for at least 3 months had higher IQ scores by age 6 than children who were bottlefed. Breastfed children had a higher general intelligence as well as better academic performance in reading, writing and maths.

While the association between breastfeeding and intelligence is clear, researchers are unable to confirm whether the benefit lies in the make-up of breast milk itself or comes from the close bond between mother and child that comes with breastfeeding.

Lead researcher Professor Michael Kramer of McGill University in Canada advised women to breastfeed exclusively for at least 3 months but longer if possible.

The study was published in the May edition of Archives of General Psychiatry.

Posted Thursday 21st May 2008