3. Protection From Allergies
a. Allergic Families
Breastfeeding, even for short periods, was clearly associated with lower incidence of wheezing, prolonged colds, diarrhea, and vomiting.
Source:Merrett, T.G., "Infant Feeding & Allergy: 12 Month Prospective Study of 500 Babies Born into Allergic Families". American Allergies, 1988.
b. Eczema
Eczema was less common and milder in babies who were breastfed (22%) and whose mothers were on a restricted diet (48%).
In infants fed casein hydrolysate, soymilk or cows milk, 21%, 63%, and 70% respectively, developed atopic eczema.
Source: Chandra R.K., "Influence of Maternal Diet During Lactation and the Use of Formula Feed and Development of Atopic
Eczema in the High Risk Infants". Br Med J. 1989.
4. Enhances Development and Intelligence
a. Higher IQ
Children who had consumed mother's milk by tube in early weeks of life had a significantly higher IQ at 7.5 to 8 yr.. than those
who received no maternal milk, even after adjustment for differences between groups and mothers' educational and social class.
Source: Lucas, A., "Breast Milk and Subsequent Intelligence Quotient in Children Born Preterm". Lancet 1992;339:261-62.
b. Cognitive Development
Supplementary regression analysis examining the strength of relationship between duration of breastfeeding and cognitive
development show a small but significant relationship between duration of breastfeeding and scores on the mental development
index of the Bayley Scales at 1 and 2 years.
Source: Morrow-Tlucak, M. "Breast Feeding and Cognitive Development During the First 2 years of Life. "Soc Sci Med, 1988.
In 771 low-birth-weight infants, babies whose mothers chose to provide breastmilk had an 8-point advantage
in mean Bayley's mental developmental index over infants of mothers choosing not to do so.
Source: Morley,R., "Mothers Choice to provide Breast Milk and Developmental Outcome." Arch Dis Child, 1988.
c. Social Development
The psychomotor and social development of breastfed babies clearly differs from that of bottle-fed ones and leads at the age of 12
months to significant advantages of the psychomotor and social capabilities.
Source: Baumgartner, C., "Psychomotor and Social Development of Breast Fed and Bottle Fed babies During their First year of Life".
Acta Paediatrica Hungarica, 1984.
5. Long Term Benefits
a. Dental Health
Among breastfed infants, the longer the duration of nursing the lower the incidents of malocclusion.
Source: Labbok, M.H. "Does Breast Feeding Protect against Malocclusion? An Analysis of the 1981 Child Health Supplement to
the National Health Interview Survey". American Journal of Preventive Medicine, 1987.
b. Toddler Health
Mothers of 67 infants were questioned about the types and duration of illness episodes requiring medical care between 16 and 30 months
of age. Breastfeeding was noted to decrease the number of infant illnesses and indirectly improve toddler health.
Source: Gulick, E.E. "The Effects of Breastfeeding on the Toddler Health. "Pediatric Nursing, 1986.
c. Diabetes Mellitus
Children who developed IDDM in New South Wales, Australia were matched with healthy children (ratio 1:2) of the same sex and age
for comparison. Those who were exclusively breastfed during their first three months of life had a 34% lower risk of developing diabetes
than those who were not breastfed. Children given cow's milk-based formula in their first three months were 52% more likely
to develop IDDM than those not given cow's milk formula.
Source: Diabetes Care 1994;17:1381-1389, 1488-1490.
d. Childhood Cancer
Children who are artificially fed or breastfed for only 6 months or less, are at an increased risk of developing cancer before age 15. The risk
of artificially fed children was 1-8 times that of long-term breastfed children, and the risk for short term feeders was 1-9 times that of long term
breast feeders.
Source: Davis, M.K. Infant Feeding and Childhood Cancer. "Lancet 1988.