Breastfed Children Have Lower Risk of Behavior Disorders, Says Study Done in South Africa

A new study carried out in South Africa has discovered that there is a link between breastfeeding and good behavior among very young children.

According to the findings wherein 1,500 children were involved, children who were breastfeed continuously for at least six months following World Health Organization (WHO) recommendations were more likely to behave better when they begin school compared to those who were breastfed for only a month or less than six months.

Based on the study, there was a strong connection between how long children were breastfed and how well or badly they behave when they reach the age of seven until 11.

The study was conducted by the Human Science Council in Durban and funded by the Canadian government. The authors conclude that apart from the importance of nutritional value of breast milk to newborns and how it helps newborns become more resilient against flu and other infections, breastfeeding itself has an effect on the behavior of children. Breastmilk helps reduce risks of diabetes and obesity, while the process and ritual of breastfeeding itself creates a very strong bond between the mother and the newborn which continues well into childhood. It has been previously established in previous researches that most breastfeed babies perform better in intelligence tests.

On the other hand, children who were not breastfed are at higher risk to develop behavior disorders as they grow up.

Unfortunately, childhood conduct disorders have been linked to social problems in adulthood. This include tendencies towards violence, criminality and poor long-term mental health issues. Growing up, they may also show low academic achievement.

It was also discovered by the South Africa study that young children who went to daycare for at least a year had higher chances of being successful when it came to achieving higher executive functions. These children are more able to plan efficiently, focus on schoolwork, and understand as well as remember instructions. In contrast, children who stayed at home during their very early discovery years were not as likely to succeed at executive functions. The chances of them being able to succeed at higher executive functions were pegged at 36 percent.