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Page 2 of 3 Protection From Infection
Breastfeeding exclusively for four or more months may significantly reduce a baby's risk of ear infection, a common and painful early childhood illness. Experts aren't sure which ingredients provides the protection; they do know that breast milk contains a host of infection fighters. It seems to help prevent infant diarrhea, and there's preliminary evidence that a carbohydrate abundant in breastmilk may inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. Breastfeeding exclusively for four or more months may significantly reduce a baby's risk of ear infection, a common and painful early childhood illness. Experts aren't sure which ingredients provides the protection; they do know that breast milk contains a host of infection fighters. It seems to help prevent infant diarrhea, and there's preliminary evidence that a carbohydrate abundant in breastmilk may inhibit the growth of bacteria that cause urinary tract infections. "Smart" Milk?
Claims that nursing increases a baby's intelligence inspires heated debate, and two recent studies have upped the temperature of the argument. One found that between ages 7 1/2 and 8, children who as premature infants had been fed breast milk scored significantly higher on intelligence tests than children (also born prematurely) who were fed formula. Because all were fed by tube, researchers could separate the influence of the milk from the bonding process of nursing. In another study, researchers, following 855 children from birth to school age, found that the children who were breastfed scored slightly better in verbal and reasoning abilities than those who weren't.The advantages found are subtle and the studies themselves aren't definitive, says children nutrition expert Judy Hopkinson, Ph.D., of Children Nutrition Research Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. But they do remind us "to keep an open mind. There might be differences in the long-term progress of children who are breastfed versus those who aren't." Straighter Teeth
A bay's early swallowing, sucking and tongue-thrusting habits appear to influence mouth, tooth jaw development. A review of dental histories of almost 10,000 children found that those who'd been breastfed for four months or or longer had a 44 percent lower incidence of crooked teeth those who were bottle-fed or nursed for a shorter time. A bay's early swallowing, sucking and tongue-thrusting habits appear to influence mouth, tooth jaw development. A review of dental histories of almost 10,000 children found that those who'd been breastfed for four months or or longer had a 44 percent lower incidence of crooked teeth those who were bottle-fed or nursed for a shorter time.
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