Breastfeeding and early child development: a prospective cohort study
Wendy H Oddy1, Monique Robinson, Garth E Kendall
1Telethon Institute for Child Health Research, Centre for Child Health Research, The University of Western Australia, Perth, WA, Australia. wendyo@ichr.uwa.edu.au
Acta Paediatrica (Oslo, Norway : 1992)
|February 9, 2011
Summary
Breastfeeding for 4 months or longer is linked to better child development in fine motor skills, adaptability, and communication up to age three. This study highlights the developmental benefits of extended breastfeeding for infants.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Developmental Psychology
- Public Health
Background:
- Breastfeeding offers potential infant developmental advantages, though research findings are mixed.
- Previous studies have yielded inconsistent results regarding the long-term benefits of breastfeeding on child development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the association between breastfeeding duration (≥4 months) and child development at ages 1, 2, and 3 years.
- To clarify the relationship between extended breastfeeding and key developmental milestones.
Main Methods:
- Utilized data from the Western Australian Pregnancy Cohort (Raine) Study, following 2868 infants.
- Collected infant feeding data and utilized the Infant/Child Monitoring Questionnaire (IMQ) for developmental assessments.
- Adjusted for maternal sociodemographic factors and stressful life events in multivariable analyses.
Main Results:
- Infants breastfed for ≥4 months showed significantly higher fine motor skills at ages 1 and 3.
- Extended breastfeeding was associated with higher adaptability scores up to age two and improved communication scores at ages 1 and 3.
- Infants breastfed for <4 months had a higher likelihood of atypical developmental scores across multiple domains.
Conclusions:
- Breastfeeding for 4 months or longer is associated with enhanced developmental outcomes in children aged 1-3 years.
- These benefits were observed even after accounting for various confounding factors.
- The findings support the recommendation of extended breastfeeding for optimal child development.
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