No evidence was found that exclusive breast-feeding affects future child behavior.
Many studies have suggested beneficial effects of breast-feeding on infection rates, atopic disease, obesity, and even IQ scores. To analyze the long-term effects of exclusive and prolonged breast-feeding on child behavior and maternal adjustment, researchers followed 13,889 children from the prospective, randomized Promotion of Breastfeeding Intervention Trial (PROBIT) until age 6.5 years.
In PROBIT, which was based on the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative (BFHI), researchers randomized 31 hospitals and clinics in the Republic of Belarus to receive educational interventions aimed at promoting and maintaining breast-feeding or to no intervention. The initial results of this study showed a significant increase in duration and exclusivity of b…