Better mental health for breastfed babies

A West Australian study has found that babies that are breast-fed for more than six months showed a significantly better mental health in childhood. The findings are based on data from the Raine Study at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. The institute has tracked the growth and development of more than 2500 West Australian children over the past 16 years.

By Michael Dorausch, D.C.
planetc1.com staff writer

A West Australian study has found that babies that are breast-fed for more than six months showed a significantly better mental health in childhood.

The findings are based on data from the Raine Study at the Telethon Institute for Child Health Research. The institute has tracked the growth and development of more than 2500 West Australian children over the past 16 years.

According to the report, there’s growing evidence that bioactive factors found in breast milk play an important role in the rapid early brain development that occurs in the first year of a child’s life.

Researchers found that even when they adjusted the results to take into account other factors such as socioeconomic situations, education, happiness, and family functioning, they still saw that children that were breast-fed for at least six months showed a lower risk of mental health problems.

The research analysis was based on a scientifically recognized checklist of child behavior that assessed the study children’s behavior at the ages of 2, 6, 8 and 10 years old. According to the study, children that were breast-fed had particularly low rates of delinquent, aggressive and antisocial behavior, and they were generally, less depressed, anxious or withdrawn.

The results offers more data to a list of growing evidence for more support to be given to mothers to help them breast-feed longer.

Some documents related to breast-feeding from the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association: Breastfeeding

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Source: New research reveals breastfeeding boosts mental health