A study by researchers at Oxford University has suggested that babies breastfed for four months or more have less behavioural problems than their peers when they reach five years of age. The findings, published in the journal Archives of Disease in Childhood, support the growing evidence base on the benefits of breastfeeding.
The nationwide study looked at over 10,000 children born between 2000-2001 and involved home interviews with parents when their babies were nine months old, as well as follow up interviews every two years.
Lead Researcher Maria Quigley, of the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University said ‘We found that children who were breastfed for at least four months were less likely to have behavioural problems at age 5,'
‘However, that observation might not have been the direct result of breastfeeding – it could have been down to a number of factors,’ she explains. ‘As a group, mothers who breastfed for four months were very different socially to those who formula fed. They were more likely to be older, better educated and in a higher socio-economic position, on average.
‘Having controlled for these and other differences between the groups, we found there was still a 30% lower risk of behaviour problems associated with prolonged breastfeeding.’
Midwife and iMama.tv Expert Sofie Jacobs recommends asking as many questions as possible until you are comfortable with breastfeeding.
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