Breastfed babies score higher on cognitive tests at age 10, study finds

Babies who are breastfed for even just a few months from birth tend to score higher on neurocognitive tests at age 10, a new study has revealed. Researchers in the US gave cognitive tests to nine and ten-year-olds whose mothers reported they were breastfed, and compared their results to scores of children who were not. The findings suggest that any amount of breastfeeding has a positive cognitive impact on children, although the longer the children were breastfed, the higher their score. Dr Daniel Adan Lopez, first author of the study, said: 'Hopefully from a policy standpoint, this can help improve the motivation to breastfeed.' Remember to support your baby's neck but not hold the back of their head. They should then be able to take a large mouthful of breast.