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Breastfed children are brainier, study suggests
UK Guardian ^ | May 6 2008 | Ian Sample

Posted on 05/05/2008 6:13:44 PM PDT by Aristotelian

Breastfed babies are more intelligent than those weaned on formula milk, according to the most comprehensive study conducted on the issue.

Doctors followed nearly 14,000 children over six and a half years and found that those who were breastfed fared significantly better in IQ tests.

At the age of six and a half, children who had been exclusively breastfed scored 7.5 points higher in verbal intelligence tests and 5.9 points higher in overall IQ tests. Teachers also rated the breastfed children higher at reading, writing and solving mathematical problems.

The finding, which confirms earlier research, raises the question of whether it is breast milk itself or associated maternal care that is responsible for boosting the intelligence of developing babies. Previous studies have hinted that breastfeeding increases intelligence, but the effect has proved hard to nail down.

(Excerpt) Read more at guardian.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events
KEYWORDS: babies; breastfeeding; health; iq
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To: Parley Baer

Well, if no one else does, I will! I don’t need photos, I have been looking at them for 50 years.


21 posted on 05/05/2008 6:37:35 PM PDT by infantrywhooah
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To: infantrywhooah

Stop. Please.


22 posted on 05/05/2008 6:39:00 PM PDT by rlmorel (Clinging bitterly to Guns and God in Massachusetts...:)
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To: Aristotelian

Pamela Anderson’s child has “Artificial Intelligence.”


23 posted on 05/05/2008 6:45:48 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: Grizzled Bear

This thread could be LEGENDARY...

or not. After all, it has the “Ungh” thread to go up against.

(But that was good)


24 posted on 05/05/2008 6:56:08 PM PDT by rlmorel (Clinging bitterly to Guns and God in Massachusetts...:)
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To: Aristotelian

Perhaps breastfeeding moms are brainier and give birth to smarter kids.


25 posted on 05/05/2008 6:58:14 PM PDT by muir_redwoods (Free Sirhan Sirhan, after all, the bastard who killed Mary Jo Kopechne is walking around free)
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To: rlmorel; Slings and Arrows; Darksheare; callisto

Let’s bring in the specialists...


26 posted on 05/05/2008 6:58:37 PM PDT by Grizzled Bear ("Does not play well with others.")
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To: Aristotelian

My two bottle-fed daughters are both extremely smart, pretty, and have hardly been sick a day in their lives. So there.


27 posted on 05/05/2008 7:00:17 PM PDT by Some Fat Guy in L.A. (Nope. Not gonna do it.)
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To: Sherman Logan
At least in America, it is pretty well known that higher income and education mothers are much more likely to breast feed.

Yeah? But, do they do it in person?

28 posted on 05/05/2008 7:04:17 PM PDT by donna (Before they gave us McCain, they tried to give us Rudy.)
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To: Some Fat Guy in L.A.
My two bottle-fed daughters are both extremely smart, pretty, and have hardly been sick a day in their lives. So there.

I'm with you. My bottle fed son (who is tall and handsome, might I add) graduated college at 19, and will have his Master's at 21. That soy formula didn't seem to affect his brain, LOL!

29 posted on 05/05/2008 7:13:48 PM PDT by dawn53
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To: rlmorel

me to but it wasn’t milk!


30 posted on 05/05/2008 7:19:39 PM PDT by bobby.223
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To: Aristotelian

hugh hefner was an einstein.


31 posted on 05/05/2008 7:22:14 PM PDT by ken21 ( people die + you never hear from them again.)
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To: Aristotelian

I nursed both my sons. Is it exclusively breastfeeding? Or is it the fact that it’s usually more-educated, higher income mothers who are likely to breastfeed? Parents who have good nutrition, access to good prenatal care, tend to read to their children and encourage them to explore, nurture their environment. Both of my sons also attended day care part time but it was a home day care as opposed to being in a group of 30 kids. So they got more attention there too.

I used to take my kids to the grocery store and even before they were talking, would engage them in what I was doing. “Do you see the red apple? What color is this, is it green? Are you going to have some yummy bananas for lunch? Mumma has 2 bananas, 1, 2” and so on. Then I see some kids slung in the basket and mom - “Shut up before I whip your a$$. Shut UP. Here, just eat these french fries, I need to get you some Koolaid and poptarts.” A lot is nurture (vs nature).


32 posted on 05/05/2008 7:25:19 PM PDT by ktscarlett66 (Face it girls....I'm older and I have more insurance....)
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To: ktscarlett66

Children are nursed almost exclusively in third world countries. Tell me they’re smarter....or more creative. Stupid study....


33 posted on 05/05/2008 7:39:57 PM PDT by Sacajaweau ("The Cracker" will be renamed "The Crapper")
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To: muir_redwoods

“Perhaps breastfeeding moms are brainier and give birth to smarter kids.”

Or perhaps, mother’s milk is the best possible nutrition for the first several month’s of a newborn’s life. I’m betting Mother Nature produces more beneficial milk for babies than any corporation.


34 posted on 05/05/2008 8:14:12 PM PDT by Will88
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To: Aristotelian
Interesting premise, but our #2 son is the one who breastfed the shortest time, and is the smartest of all our kids. I didn't work outside the home, there was a lot of talking and laughing in our house, and we ate dinner together every night. There was also lots of interesting discussion about all kinds of stuff including computers, technology, and science.

We weren't much for sports, so our kids did computer, video games or art stuff. But along with the brainy stuff, we also camped out sometimes in the summer and fall, and they really enjoyed that.

IQ is only one part of the equation. How folks USE it is the other, more important part.

35 posted on 05/05/2008 8:26:49 PM PDT by SuziQ
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To: Sherman Logan
I've always understood it to mean that among children who are on the low end of the development and intelligence scores, those that were breastfed had some advantage over those that were formula fed.

I've got one of each and both seem about equal.

36 posted on 05/05/2008 8:35:20 PM PDT by TNdandelion ("I'm down to my last toilet paper tube!")
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To: TNdandelion

That should read, “I’ve got one of each who was breastfed and formula fed.”


37 posted on 05/05/2008 8:36:34 PM PDT by TNdandelion ("I'm down to my last toilet paper tube!")
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To: Aristotelian; MeekOneGOP; Conspiracy Guy; DocRock; King Prout; Darksheare; OSHA; martin_fierro; ...
I feel the need...the need to feed.


38 posted on 05/05/2008 10:33:48 PM PDT by Slings and Arrows ("Code Pink should guard against creating stereotypes in the Mincing Community." --Titan Magroyne)
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To: Slings and Arrows

This thread has potential.......


39 posted on 05/06/2008 5:32:35 AM PDT by day10 (Rules cannot substitute for character.)
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To: Aristotelian

They needed a study for this?

I’m in the wrong business.


40 posted on 05/06/2008 5:36:19 AM PDT by ukie55
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