Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Studies which assessed the relationship between breastfeeding (BF) and child development reported, in its majority, a positive association between BF and cognitive assessments, in infancy as well as in adults. Research has been done mainly in developed countries (Europe, USA, Australia), where BF is highly associated with socioeconomic status (SES).
OBJECTIVE: To examine the relationship between the duration of exclusive BF (EBF) with mental and motor development in children at 51/2.
METHODS: 812 healthy children were studied at 51/2 years, birth weight = 3,0 Kg, categorized in 4 groups according to the duration of EBF: Short: 0-2 months (n= 135; 35%); Intermediate: 2-5 months (n=244; 30%); Long: 5-7 months (n= 144; 18%); Prolonged: > 7 months (n0135; 17%). During weekly home visits information regarding EBF and socioparental characteristics was collected. When the children were 51/2 years old, motor and cognitive tests were applied; mothers were assessed for stress and depression; SES and quality of home stimulation were registered.
RESULTS: Results of the tests applied to the children indicated that subjects breastfed for short periods (0-2 months) as well as for prolonged periods (> 7 months) are both associated with lower cognitive and motos tests scores. The only socioparental difference found between the 4 groups was in the short EBF (0-2 months) group where there was more father absence and mothe depressive symptomatology.
CONCLUSIONS: EBF for short or prolonged periods doesn‘t seem to be optimal for child development. The interpretation of the results have to be cautious, specially for prolonged EBF. Does it related to the nutritional characteristics of mother‘s mik, are mothers who breastfeed longer than 7 months different or there are other key variables nor measured in the study? It‘s necessary to replicate the study in other samples with a deeper assessment in mother-child relationship and mother‘s personality characteristics.
Article PDF
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Clark, K., Castillo, M., Pino, P. et al. Exclusive Breastfeeding and Child Development: TL 22. Pediatr Res 60, 636 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200611000-00030
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-200611000-00030