The most comprehensive study of breastfeeding undertaken in Britain has found breastfed babies are brainier than their formula-fed counterparts.
The research found infants who were breastfed exclusively for at least their first week of life consistently outperformed children who were bottle-fed from birth.
Researchers at Oxford University and the Institute for Social and Economic Research (ISER) in Essex examined data from more than 10,000 children and drew their conclusions after 'pairing up' youngsters so that family circumstances and maternal IQ were identical, the only difference being whether or not they were breastfed. They then compared each pair to note any differences in development based on how they were fed.
ISER Researcher, Maria Iacovou, said the breastfed babies had IQs that were on average between three and five points higher, with the data showing an effect at five, seven, 11 and 14 years of age.
'We wouldn't have been surprised if the effect faded with time, but it didn't,' she said, adding 'This is more evidence that breastfeeding is good for your baby.'
What do you think about this survey?
Have you noted developmental differences in formula-fed and breast-fed babies?
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