Breast fed babies smarter: Study

By Dr. Ananya Mandal, MDMar 14 2011

Scientists have finally come to a consensus that babies who are breast fed grow up to be more intelligent. A latest study showed that just four weeks on their mothers’ milk can have a ‘significant’ effect on a child’s development in primary and secondary school. These children do better at reading, writing and maths at the ages of five, seven, 11 and 14. It was known till now that breast feeding boosts immunity and helps the children fight ear infections, stomach bugs and even asthma.

Maria Iacovou, one of the authors of the study, said, “The issue was that while it looked as though breast feeding did have an impact on cognitive development, no one knew if that was just because the type of mother more likely to breast feed in the first place was more likely to nurture brighter children, or whether there was a true causal link…Breast milk has well-known health benefits and now we can say there are clear benefits for children’s brains as well.”

But despite endless Government campaigns and studies supporting it, Britain has one of the worst breastfeeding rates in Europe. Twenty per cent of new mothers never even try it, compared with just 2 per cent in Sweden. As few as 3 per cent breastfeed for the recommended six months, and only a third are still doing so after a week.

Dr Iacovou, a social scientist at the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex, insisted that she didn’t intend “to make any mother feel guilty”. She added that women should not be pressured to breast feed but “we should start focusing more on those women who do want to, try to help them and make it more normal for everyone”. Janet Fyle, professional policy adviser at the Royal College of Midwives, said that mothers often can’t breastfeed because of pressures to return to work. She added, “In this country we are cutting benefits to single parent families and poorer people, and mothers have to get back to work and earn a living, whether it’s in Sainsbury’s or the City – it is what the Government wants them to do.”

The study was conducted by researchers from Oxford University and the Institute for Social and Economic Research at the University of Essex. The study team looked at test scores of pupils who were still being breast fed when they were four weeks old and others put on formula milk. They compared the breast fed children with bottle-fed ones from a very similar background, based on factors such as parents’ income, jobs and whether they were separated. Despite very similar upbringings, those who had been breast fed consistently did better in maths, reading and writing throughout primary and secondary school, the study of more than 10,000 children found. The results come from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, a study into the lives of over 14,000 mothers that gave birth in 1991 and 1992, as well as their children

The NHS currently advises that infants need to be breast fed and not given formula for the first 6 months. The Department of Health recommends that babies are exclusively breast fed until six months, although many pediatricians still say babies should be weaned earlier if they show an interest in solids.