Multiple Studies Show Breastfed Babies Have Higher IQs – But There is More to the Story…

There is quite a bit of proof that breastfeeding is superior to not breastfeeding. One benefit that has been shown in several studies is that breastfed babies have higher IQs and perform better in school. Well, now a new study sheds even more light on this subject. According to Sciencedaily: “A new study by sociologists at Brigham Young University pinpoints two parenting skills as the real source of this cognitive boost: Responding to children’s emotional cues and reading to children starting nine months of age. Breastfeeding mothers tend to do both of those things, said lead study author Ben Gibbs.” This study was published in the March 2014 issue of the Journal of Pediatrics. In other words, the authors do not believe the breast milk itself is the reason for the higher IQ and “smarter babies.” Instead, they believe it is the parenting that makes the difference.
Child development expert from Wayne State University, Dr. Sandra Jacobson, praised the study and said, “Children in the study who were breastfed for six months or longer performed the best on reading assessments because they also experienced the most optimal parenting practices.” It seems that parents who make the decision to breastfeed are also willing to make the decision to do other things that maximize the development of their children.