Breastfeeding is associated with improved child cognitive development: evidence from the UK Millennium Cohort Study
- M. A. Quigley1,
- C. Hockley1,
- C. Carson1,
- Y. Kelly2,
- M. Renfrew3,
- A. Sacker4
- 1National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- 2Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University College London, London, UK
- 3Mother and Infant Research Unit, University of York, Heslington, York, UK
- 4Institute for Social and Economic Research, University of Essex, Colchester, Essex, UK
Objective
To assess the relationship between breastfeeding and child cognitive development, and whether this relationship varies according to prematurity.
Design
Population-based cohort (Sweeps 1 and 3 of the UK Millennium Cohort Study).
Setting
UK.
Participants
11 801 white singleton children born in 2000–2002.
Comparison Groups
Children were grouped according to their breastfeeding status (ever vs never; and duration of any and exclusive breastfeeding). Results were stratified according to gestational age at birth: 37–42 weeks (term); 33–36 weeks (moderately preterm); and 28–32 weeks (very preterm).
Main Outcome Measures
British Ability …
