One of the perceived benefits of breastfeeding is the possibility that it can boost the child's IQ. Findings of a new study, however, suggest breastfeeding kids won't necessarily make them more intelligent.
No Causal Link Between Breastfeeding And Children's Cognitive Abilities
In a study involving children between 3 and 5 years old, researchers found that while breastfed children generally scored higher on standardized tests for cognitive abilities, the difference was not big enough to be considered as statistically significant.
"We weren't able to find a direct causal link between breastfeeding and children's cognitive outcomes," said study author Lisa-Christine Girard from University College Dublin.
Why children who were breastfed may be associated with having better cognitive abilities can be attributed to other factors, the researchers said. Mothers who decide to breastfeed their babies, for example, tend to have higher levels of education and engage less in risky behaviors when they were pregnant.
Breastfeeding babies is still linked to advantages for both child and mother though, so despite the study's findings, mothers are still urged to breastfeed their babies. Here are some of the other reasons why breast milk is still best for children, especially newborns.
Lowers Asthma Risk
In a 2016 study, researchers found that in infants with a high risk for asthma, those who were breastfed have a 27 percent reduced risk of developing respiratory symptoms. The research showed for the first time how infants with 17q21 gene variants, which make them susceptible to wheezing, may experience a different severity and frequency of respiratory symptoms depending on whether or not they are breastfed.
Prevents Infant Deaths
In a report, researchers from UNICEF and the World Health Organization said that breastfeeding can slash the occurrence of sudden infant death in developed countries by up to a third. Breastfeeding can also reduce cases of diarrhea and respiratory infections.
Offers Long-Term Health Benefits
Breastfeeding children does not just provide them protection from health conditions when they are young. Researchers have also found that breastfeeding children can reduce their risk of developing obesity and diabetes later in life.
Protects Mothers From Serious Diseases And Premature Death
Breastfeeding offers an array of benefits for babies, but research has also shown that mothers can also benefit from breastfeeding their kids. In a study published in the journal Maternal & Child Nutrition, researchers found that breastfeeding protects mothers from serious diseases and premature death. Breastfeeding appears to reduce the risk for hypertension, diabetes, pre-menopausal ovarian cancer, heart attack, and breast cancer.
Breastfeeding As A Matter Of Choice
Despite the benefits associated with breastfeeding, some noted that there is no need to criticize women who have decided not to breastfeed their babies.
"Women should not feel bullied or emotionally blackmailed into breastfeeding by one over-zealous section of society any more than they should be made to feel ashamed for breastfeeding in public by another," wrote The Lancet Global Health editor Zoe Mullan.
"Breast milk provided exclusively for at least six months is unequivocally the best nutrition a baby can receive; women and their families need respectful advice to make the choice wherever that is possible," Mullan added.
