This study demonstrates that breast feeding for greater than 6 months was associated with better motor developmental outcomes into adolescence. Most are familiar with studies linking breast feeding to immunological and cognitive function and now this one. Give it a read!
Breastfeeding and motor development: A longitudinal cohort study.
Abstract
BACKGROUND:
While there is a large body of work supporting the importance of early feeding practices on cognitive, immunity, behavioural and mental outcomes, few longitudinal studies have focused on motor development. The relationship between duration of breast feeding and motor development outcomes at 10, 14, and 17years were examined.
METHODS:
Data were obtained from the Western Australian Pregnancy (Raine) Study. There were 2868 live births recorded and children were examined for motor proficiency at 10 (M=10.54, SD=2.27), 14 (M=14.02, SD=2.33) and 17 (M=16.99, SD=2.97) years using the McCarron Assessment of Neuromuscular Development (MAND). Using linear mixed models, adjusted for covariates known to affect motor development, the influence of predominant breast feeding for <6months and ⩾6months on motor development outcomes was examined.
RESULTS:
Breast feeding for ⩾6months was positively associated with improved motor development outcomes at 10, 14 and 17yearsof age (p=0.019, β 1.38) when adjusted for child’s sex, maternal age, alcohol intake, family income, hypertensive status, gestational stress and mode of delivery.
CONCLUSION:
Early life feeding practices have an influence on motor development outcomes into late childhood and adolescence independent of sociodemographic factors.
What do you think? Could children who breastfeed longer become better athletes?
