Another Reason to Promote Breast-Feeding: Fewer Behavior Problems

Even after adjustment for confounders, term infants who were breast-fed for ≥4 months were significantly less likely to have parent-reported behavioral problems at age 5 years than infants who were never breast-fed.

The influence of breast-feeding on behavioral development is uncertain. Investigators in the U.K. used data from a large national cohort to examine the association between duration of breast-feeding and parent-reported behavioral development in 9525 term and 512 preterm singleton white infants born in 2000–2001. Parents (mostly mothers) were surveyed about feeding history when infants were age 9 months and completed the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire (SDQ) to assess their child's behavior at age 5 years.

Overall, 29% of term and 21% of preterm infants were breast-fed for ≥4 months. Nearly 12% of term and 15% of preterm children had abnormal SDQ scores at age 5 years. In logistic regression (adjusted for demographic and socioeconomi…

Reviewing Author

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)

F. Bruder Stapleton, MD

Disclosures

Consultant/Advisory BoardCareer Physician

Editorial BoardsUpToDate

Leadership Positions in Professional SocietiesAmerican Society of Pediatric Nephrology Foundation (Chair)