Only four months of breastfeeding can reduce the risk of children into behaving badly almost a third, a study suggests.
The same study found that 16 percent of children who grew up with formula within the first four months of life has problems including anxiety, lying, stealing, and hyperactive - more than double those who get the milk for the same period.
When other influences are considered, such as social and economic background, reducing the risk of behavioral problems at age five are caused by feeding 30 percent, according to research by University of Oxford.
That study of 9500 mothers and babies is led by Dr Maria Quigley, from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University. Quigley said the possible reasons for the findings including the interaction between mother and child because of close physical contact from an early age.
In the study, which examined infants who received at least four months of breastfeeding. Parents are asked to fill out questionnaires designed to assess the behavior of their children at the age of five years.
The results showed that 16 percent of children with milk formula and 6 percent of children breastfed scored abnormal, showing behavior problems.
Quigley said, "We found that children who were breastfed for at least four months or less likely to have behavior problems at age five years. However, observations that may not have been a direct result of breastfeeding - it could have been a number of factors," he said.
Advised new mothers to breastfeed during the first six months to protect their babies from the bloated stomach, chest infections, asthma, eczema, and allergies. Britain is a country with the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with nearly one in three new mothers do not ever try to give milk to her baby.
The same study found that 16 percent of children who grew up with formula within the first four months of life has problems including anxiety, lying, stealing, and hyperactive - more than double those who get the milk for the same period.
When other influences are considered, such as social and economic background, reducing the risk of behavioral problems at age five are caused by feeding 30 percent, according to research by University of Oxford.
That study of 9500 mothers and babies is led by Dr Maria Quigley, from the National Perinatal Epidemiology Unit at Oxford University. Quigley said the possible reasons for the findings including the interaction between mother and child because of close physical contact from an early age.
In the study, which examined infants who received at least four months of breastfeeding. Parents are asked to fill out questionnaires designed to assess the behavior of their children at the age of five years.
The results showed that 16 percent of children with milk formula and 6 percent of children breastfed scored abnormal, showing behavior problems.
Quigley said, "We found that children who were breastfed for at least four months or less likely to have behavior problems at age five years. However, observations that may not have been a direct result of breastfeeding - it could have been a number of factors," he said.
Advised new mothers to breastfeed during the first six months to protect their babies from the bloated stomach, chest infections, asthma, eczema, and allergies. Britain is a country with the lowest breastfeeding rates in Europe, with nearly one in three new mothers do not ever try to give milk to her baby.
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