 News
4th October 2006
Breastfeeding does not boost IQ
Breastfed babies are clever because their mothers are more intelligent
and not because of their intake of breastmilk.
A study from the Medical Research Council and University
of Edinburgh found that breastfeeding mothers tend to be more intelligent,
more highly educated, and likely to provide a more stimulating home environment.
However, the researchers also stressed that there were many
other advantages to breastfeeding and the World Health Organization recommends
that babies should be breastfed for at least the first two years.
Breastfed babies have been shown to be less prone to diarrhoea,
vomiting, and respiratory infections and provide natural antibodies against
disease.
The researchers looked at more than 5,000 children and 3,000
mothers in the USA and found that mothers who breastfeed tend to be more
intelligent, and when this fact was taken into account, most of the relationship
between breastfeeding and the child's intelligence disappeared.
They also looked at families where one child was breastfed
and another was not and found that the breastfed child was no more intelligent
than the non-breastfed sibling.
Lead researcher Geoff Der said, "This question has been
debated ever since a link between the two was first discovered in 1929.
"Breastfed children do tend to score higher on intelligence
tests, but they also tend to come from more advantaged backgrounds.
"This research shows that intelligence is determined by
factors other than breastfeeding but breastfeeding has many benefits for
both mother and child. It's definitely the smart thing to do."
Rosie Dodds, of the National Childbirth Trust, said the
study was not conclusive.
"Women do not breastfeed because of any benefit to their
baby, they do it because it feels like the natural thing to do.
"It is important that women make a decision that is right
for them, and their family, and they should not be pressurised either
way, but we would like to see more support for women who do decide they
want to breastfeed."
A Department of Health spokesperson said breastfeeding is
the best form of nutrition for infants.
"We know that the composition of breast milk meets the individual
needs of each baby and that as a result breastfeeding can make a major
contribution to public health."
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