Breastfeeding linked to future academic success for children, study says

By Staff Writer

A new study reveals that as few as four weeks of breastfeeding for a newborn baby can contribute to their academic achievement during adolescence.

The report, which is titled The Effect of Breastfeeding on Children's Cognitive Development, examined the long-term effects of the maternal practice. Experts from Oxford University and the Institute for Social and Economic Research based their findings on data from the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children, which covers approximately 12,000 kids who were born in the early 1990s.

Academic performance in reading, writing and mathematics for the children who were breastfed for at least four weeks during infancy scored significantly better than the children who were not. This conclusion is based on test scores at ages 5, 7, 11 and 14 years old.

Breastfeeding can have a positive impact on cognitive development, the team found. Researchers also discovered that mothers who are of a higher socioeconomic standing with higher IQs were more likely to nurse their babies.

Problem teens who struggle academically may benefit from boarding schools, many of which provide a structured and disciplined environment that can help students succeed.