From the moment of conception mothers are told that “breast is best”. Countries across the globe run breastfeeding initiatives to help encourage new mothers to feed their babies in this way, and new parents receive a constant feed of positive information on the benefits of breastfeeding.
Unable to Breastfeed?
But for mothers who, for whatever reason, are unable or choose not to breastfeed their babies, there is always an element of guilt. These women are often left questioning whether their decision will have a negative impact on their baby’s health and development – especially in light of the many recent news stories which claim breastfed children have higher IQs.
DHA and Infant Intelligence
Experts had originally believed that an acid called DHA, which is found in stronger concentrations in breast milk than formula, was responsible for the increased IQs of the breastfed children However, a recent survey by scientists at the University of Southampton, England, seems to indicate that breastfeeding alone does not make children smarter.
IQ Formed by Many Factors
The research, carried out by a team led by Dr Catherine Gale, found that factors other than the way in which a baby is fed, were likely to play the key role in IQ development. The study, published in the Archive of Disease in Childhood, followed 241 children from birth to the age of four years, at which point they underwent an IQ test to measure their intelligence. Initial results bore out those of the 2008 study by Canadian and Bellarussian scientists that claimed breastfed babies were smarter.
Breastfeeding Mothers "Different"
However, when the British team adjusted the results to take into account factors such as the mother’s own IQ and level of education, there was no real difference between the intelligence of the breastfed and formula fed babies. The results would seem to suggest that intelligence is defined by a number of factors other than infant nutrition, a possibility that was acknowledged by the leader of the Canadian study at the time of its publication.
Dr Michael Kramer of McGill University in Montreal said: “Mothers who breastfeed or those who breastfeed longer or most exclusively are different from the others who don't. They tend to be smarter. They tend to be more invested in their babies. They tend to interact with them more closely."
Breastmilk DHA Not Essential for IQ
Study leader Dr Gale commented: “We do know that there are clear health benefits to breastfeeding but DHA, which is naturally present in breast milk and added into some formulas, is not the secret ingredient that will turn your child into an Einstein."
She added: "Children's IQ bears no relation to the levels of DHA they receive as babies. Factors in the home, such as the mother's intelligence and the quality of mental stimulation the children receive, were the most important influences on their IQ."
The results of the study will come as a welcome relief to parents left concerned by their inability to breastfeed their babies, as well as offering further evidence that controllable factors such as play and stimulation are key to a child’s cognitive development.
Jenni Potter - Jenni Potter is a qualified senior journalist and newsroom veteran with 10 years experience on titles across the UK. Jenni is also a ...
Join the Conversation