Breastfeeding enhances children’s IQ, finds study

A baby’s IQ level can increase by up to five points if it is breastfed properly. According to a recent study published in the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition, breastfed infants are found to have 5.2 points more in IQ than formula-fed infants.

New moms from the city seem to be aware of the benefits of breastfeeding — paediatricians say that young working mothers from Bangalore make it a point to breastfeed their babies at least till the child turns one.

A child can be breastfed till two years of age, but paediatricians say that till three to six months of age, a baby should be only breastfed. “Educated mothers today are more aware of the utility of breastfeeding. In most cases, we see that the mom needs to get back to work after four months of delivery. So most of them express the milk and store it for their baby,” said Dr Ravneeth Joshi, lactation consultant, Manipal Hospital. Expressed milk can be kept in room temperature for about eight hours and in refrigerator for two days. 

“Most mothers are now aware of the disadvantages of formula feeding. Breastfed babies are free of infections and diarrhoea as the mom’s milk acts like a protection shield. Hypertension, diabetes and thyroid-related problems are much less among breastfed babies,’ Dr Ravneeth said.

Another major problem with children who start cow milk at an early
age is obesity. “Such babies are mostly overfed with high quantity of sugar added to the milk, leading to baby fat and obesity,” said Dr Preethi Galagali, a member of the Indian Association of Paediatric Society.

However, considering the demands on new-moms from their career front, not many have the liberty to be at home for six months after giving birth to a child. “Breast milk is the purest form of food,” said Ashwini P, a software engineer and mother of a three-month-old. “It increases the immunity level of the baby and its bonding with the mother. I will be on a sabbatical from work or two more months now. So breastfeeding my daughter won’t be a problem. But, later, when I start working again, I will have my baby fed express milk,” she said.