Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search

July 9, 2008 8:28:46 AM CDT

Learn about Newser Points »

Back to the grid

Breastfeeding May Boost IQs of Kids

Posted May 6, 08 2:03 PM CDT in Science & Health    Most Covered

(Newser) – Kids who are breastfed tend to be smarter than their formula-fed peers, a major new study says. At age 6, children who were breastfed longer scored higher on IQ tests, though researchers couldn't say whether it was the breast milk itself or stronger interaction with mothers that caused the modest gains. The study in Belarus followed 14,000 children, WebMD reports.

"Prolonged and exclusive breastfeeding makes kids smarter," said the lead researcher. "I would say as a target for mothers, if they could exclusively breastfeed for three months and continue to breastfeed for some degree for one year, that would be good."

Source WebMD

Editor Recommended

Related News

  • 45 Reasons to Have a Kid. ASAP

    Jun 5, 08 2:38 PM CDT
    45 Reasons to Have a Kid. ASAP If you're planning on having a kid at some point then now's the perfect time, advises Babble, which lists 45 reasons to produce a curtain-climber without delay. Here are the top 5:

    1. Halvies: Unlike the old days, fathers are expected to do half the dirty work like changing diapers
    1. Your inner kid: Having a baby is a great excuse to throw on classic kids' shows on DVD, like Sesame Street and Schoolhouse Rock
    More »

  • Baby Zzzs Linked to Obesity

    Apr 8, 08 7:56 AM CDT
    Baby Zzzs Linked to Obesity Babies who get less than 12 hours of shut-eye a day double their risk of being overweight by the time they're 3 years old, a new study finds. The risk is even higher for little ones who watch two hours of TV a day, the Daily Telegraph reports. If habits aren't changed, more than 25% of all children are expected to be obese by 2050, experts warn. More »

  • Let Them Eat Fish!

    Oct 4, 07 5:45 AM CDT
    Let Them Eat Fish! Contrary to federal FDA recommendations, pregnant women and nursing mothers should eat at least 12 ounces of seafood a week to help promote fetal brain development, according to the National Healthy Mothers, Healthy Babies Coalition. The government has been warning moms-to-be and nursing mothers not to eat more than 12 ounces for fear of mercury poisoning, which can cause neurological problems. More »

Mothers are seen breastfeeding their babies during the synchronized breastfeeding worldwide event in Nicosia, Cyprus, Wednesday, Aug. 8, 2007.   (AP Photo/Petros Karadjias)
Children who were consistently breastfed scored 5.9 points higher on overall IQ tests, the study found.   (Shutterstock)
The study was the largest of its kind ever attempted.   (Shutterstock)
The findings are consistent with previous observations on the topic.   (Shutterstock)
prev    next
play

Threads (1 of 1)

Tags

parenting  • women's health  • babies  • breast feeding


Loading...

Loading...

Related Thread: Parenting

Next story from this section »

Today's Most Popular


Other Science & Health Stories

What is Newser?

2008 Codie Finalist

Newser gives you more news in less time. We search for the best and most important stories all over the web, read them for you, and deliver concise and sharp summaries—along with links to the full text. Newser provides a way to stay on top of an ever-expanding horizon of news and opinion—politics, sports, business, trends, technology, personalities, crimes, and controversies. Newser keeps you not just better informed, but, with our signature graphic interface and smart condensed format, more enjoyably informed.

Learn more »