AMONG the factors influencing development, breastfeeding has been identified as a key element in promoting healthy growth, yet evidence on its specific role in developmental outcomes remains mixed. A recent study aimed to assess the association between breastfeeding duration, likelihood of attaining developmental milestones, and the occurrence of neurodevelopmental conditions (NDCs). The findings highlight significant benefits of breastfeeding, particularly for those breastfed for longer durations (over 6 months).
The retrospective cohort study utilised data from a national surveillance network for child development in Israel, linking it with social insurance records detailing neurodevelopmental conditions. Participants included 570,532 children born between 2014 and 2020, after 35 weeks’ gestation, with at least one follow-up visit at 2–3 years of age.
Among the 570,532 children studied, 52.1% were breastfed for at least 6 months, with 41.7% exclusively breastfed. Children who were breastfed for at least 6 months exhibited fewer delays in attaining developmental milestones, including language, social, and motor skills. For children who were exclusively breastfed for over 6 months, the adjusted odds ratio (AOR) for milestone delay was 0.73 (95% CI: 0.71–0.76) and for children nonexclusively breastfed, the AOR was 0.86 (95% CI: 0.83–0.88), compared to children breastfed for less than 6 months. A sibling analysis of 37,704 pairs demonstrated that the child breastfed for longer was less likely to experience delays in milestones (OR 0.91 [95% CI: 0.86–0.97)) or be diagnosed with an NDC (OR 0.73 [95% CI: 0.66–0.82). Further analysis for specific outcomes saw significant associations with social milestone delay (OR 0.93 [95% CI: 0.87–0.99; p=0.02]), language or social NDC (OR 0.77 [95% CI: 0.69–0.86; p=0.001]), and motor milestone delay (OR 0.76 [95% CI: 0.66–0.87; p=0.001]). However, no significant association was observed for the rarer outcome of motor NDC (OR 0.75 [95% CI: 0.38–1.47; p=0.40).
The findings of this study suggest that breastfeeding for at least 6 months, especially exclusive breastfeeding, is associated with a reduced likelihood of developmental delays and NDCs. These results have significant implications for clinical practice, encouraging support and promotion of longer breastfeeding durations. However, the authors note limitations, such as parental intelligence and engagement, which were not fully controlled for, and the fact preterm infants were not included in the sibling analysis. Nonetheless, the study strengthens the case for breastfeeding as a key factor for early child development.
Reference
Goldshtein I et al. Breastfeeding Duration and Child Development. JAMA Netw Open. 2025;8(3):e251540.
