A recent study published in July's online issue of JAMA Pediatrics* shows that breastfed babies tested higher on intelligence tests at ages 3 and 7. The authors studied more than 1000 women and their breastfed babies and found that each month of breastfeeding added a 0.3 percent increase in intelligence at age 3 and 0.5 percent increase by age 7. This study controlled for variables like parental intelligence, employment, education and income. Babies breastfed exclusively for six months showed the highest benefit.

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*Infant Feeding and Childhood Cognition at Ages 3 and 7 Years Effects of Breastfeeding Duration and Exclusivity

Mandy B. Belfort, MD, MPH¹; Sheryl L. Rifas-Shiman, MPH²; Ken P. Kleinman, ScD²; Lauren B. Guthrie, MPH²; David C. Bellinger, PhD³; Elsie M. Taveras, MD, MPH²; Matthew W. Gillman, MD, SM^2,4; Emily Oken, MD, MPH²