Breastfeeding for at least four months, according to a study, can stop your child from misbehaving later in life, the Daily Telegraph reports.
The study, conducted by the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University, found that 16 percent of children reared on formula milk exhibited behavioral problems such as lying, stealing, anxiety and hyperactivity. That number is more than double the proportion of those breastfed for at least four months.
When other influences, such as social and economic background, are taken into consideration, the risk of developing behavioral problems by age five is reduced by about 30 percent.
According to Dr. Maria Quigley, lead author of the study, one possible explanation for a decrease in bad behavior is the physical closeness developed between a breastfeeding mother and child from an early age, the Daily Telegraph reports.
Health experts advise mothers to breastfeed for the first six months to protect babies from viruses, infections and other illnesses. Experts say breastfeeding also produces health benefits for mothers as well.
