You’ve heard the infamous saying before. Breast is best when it comes to nourishing your child. One perceived advantage of breastfeeding is that it can also improve your child’s intelligence by boosting brain development. Many studies are looking into why breastfed babies have higher IQs. In this article, we take a closer look at a baby’s brain development, the brain-boosting components of breast milk, and the latest research on the impact of breastfeeding on a child’s brain and IQ.

Story Time

My kids are not at the age where their IQ can be reflected. However, I can say that both are incredibly analytical and observant on how things work. They pick up things incredibly fast! It may just be that they are smart kids, but I can say from older BF moms that I know that their kids always excel academically and physically.

In A Nutshell…

Your baby’s brain development primarily happens from birth up to 5 years old. Their brains go through various stages of development that can have a lasting effect later in life.
Breast milk contains over 200 beneficial components including essential fatty acids, proteins, sugars, vitamins, and minerals that promote brain development.
Many studies have been proving whether or not breastfed babies have higher IQs. Some have found positive results resulting in increased IQ scores. However, some also found that it may only have a little influence over a person’s intellect.
Although studies are conflicting at the moment, it’s important to remember that breast milk is superior as it has other positive effects which the child can greatly benefit from.

Breast Milk and Your Baby’s Brain Development

Your baby’s brain peaks development from the time they are born up to age 5. As the command center of the body, early brain development is crucial. It’s essential to establish good brain connections during the early years. These are what enables us to move, think, communicate, and function well in life. In the long run, brain development during the early life stages can create a lasting impact.

Stages of A Child’s Brain Development

Babies: Newborns multiply neurons and build connections in their brain. In this period, the child’s brain already reaches 60% the size of an adult’s brain. By the first year, the brain will double its size.
Toddlers: At 3 years old, the child’s brain will develop to 80% the size of an adult’s brain. Toddlers have a complex brain system wherein they already have 200% more synapses and brain activity than an adult’s. That’s why they learn so fast during this stage.
Early childhood: From 3 to 5 years old, your child’s brain enters a critical period of development. With better cognition and understanding, their experiences start to shape the way their synapses form. The negative or positive events they experience can leave a dent which they carry on from the time they are older.

What’s In Your Breast Milk That Helps Brain Development

Although there are varying factors, parents should pay attention to their child’s nutrition. Exclusive breastfeeding is advocated greatly in the first six months of life because breastfeeding can support brain advancement. Here are the brain-boosting elements in your breast milk:

Essential Fatty Acids. Docosahexaenoic Acid (DHA) and Arachidonic Acid (AHA) are fatty acids. They are needed by the body as key building blocks affecting brain and vision development. Though the body can generate DHA and AHA, it does not produce enough. That’s why infants need to source these from their nutrition. Breast milk contains a lot of DHA and AHA.
Proteins. Breast milk is rich in proteins. Proteins are necessary to build body tissues and organs. The beauty of breast milk protein is that they are partially hydrolyzed which makes them easier to break down into amino acids. Taurine, an amino acid, is especially important for brain development.
Simple Sugars. Lactose, when metabolized, will be turned to its simple forms called glucose and galactose. Galactose fosters brain and nervous system development in your baby’s body.
Vitamins and Minerals. Breast milk is packed with the best set of vitamins and minerals. In brain development, vitamin A, D, E, K, C B6, B12, and folate present in breast milk supports healthy brain growth.

The Debate: Does Breastfeeding Really Increase Your Baby’s IQ?

Breastmilk has an array of beneficial effects on a child’s overall growth and development. Researchers have been interested to know the relationship between breastfeeding and brain power. However, over the years, a number of studies have found contradicting results.

Why Breastfed Babies Have Higher IQs:

Here are the studies that back up the theory that breastfeeding increases a baby’s IQ:

One clinical trial in Belarus studied the IQ of 16,000 babies by randomly assigning special breastfeeding support or normal hospital care after they have given birth. It found that early breastfed babies scored 7.5 points higher in verbal IQ tests and 5.9 higher in their overall IQ when they were older.
Researches at Brown University have determined that breastfeeding increases a baby’s brain growth to 20-30%. This growth was especially seen in the white matter of the brain. The study also found that by age 2, exclusively breastfed babies had better development in the important parts of the brain compared to those that are formula-fed.
Another interesting study in Brazil followed 6,000 babies from birth until they were 30 years old to explore long-term cognitive development. They discovered that those that have been breastfed were more intelligent and spent longer time studying in school. In addition, they also proved that a breastfed infant improved in their individual and societal level.

Why Breastfeeding Does Not Increase Baby’s IQ

On the other hand, some researchers think otherwise:

Research in the Goldsmiths University of London studied 11,582 British babies from 1994-1996. Although breastfeeding seems to have a positive influence in early brain development, breastfed and formula-fed babies had equal brain development by the time they are teenagers.
The latest research on breastfeeding and brain development was done in Ireland wherein 7,500 Irish children have been followed from birth up until childhood. The results showed that breastfed babies did better on problem-solving tests and hyperactivity. However, the results are inconclusive. The researchers have pointed out too many factors that may have influenced brain development. It was statistically insignificant to say that breastfeeding was solely responsible for the improved IQ.

So, Should You Breastfeed?

Although compounding researches have been done to link breastfeeding, IQ, and brain development, the current evidence is not significant. At the moment, it’s too early to tell whether or not breastfeeding does affect intellect. Cognition and intelligence are difficult to study as they can be influenced by too many factors other than breastfeeding.

The mother’s IQ, level of education, home environment, maternal interaction, and household income can play a role in the child’s brain development. Moreover, all of these factors are difficult to control.

However, whether or not breastfeeding does improve intelligence, the number of other benefits you can still reap from giving breast milk to your baby remains superior.

Other Benefits of Breastfeeding

Complete nutrition. Breast milk is called liquid gold for a reason. Mothers make their breast milk to tailor-fit their own baby’s need. It also has all the necessary nutrients for your child’s optimal growth and development.
Lowers risk for infections. Breast milk contains an array of immunity-boosting components, including antibodies, that protect your baby from viral and bacterial infections like urinary tract infection, inflammatory bowel disease, gastroenteritis, ear infections, and respiratory infections.
Reduce the risk of SIDS. Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the number one cause of death in infants less than 4 months. Breastfeeding has been shown to reduce the risk of SIDS for babies that have been exclusively breastfed for at least 2 months by at least 50%. This is because breastfeeding can boost the baby’s brain development, strengthen their immune system, promote safer sleep, increase maternal awareness, and support the baby’s suck and swallow coordination.
Easier to digest for the baby. Breast milk is made of components that are gentler to break down for you baby. This is why they will experience less digestive problems like diarrhea and constipation than those that are formula fed.

The Takeaway…

Breastfeeding is linked to a myriad of benefits that promote your child’s optimal growth and development. One interesting aspect of these benefits is the possibility that breastfeeding may have a link towards a baby’s intellect later in life.

Brain development largely happens from birth up to five years old. The brain undergoes different stages that create connections and links between neurons, which later on determine the child’s ability to learn, think, move, and function. To support brain growth, breast milk contains over 200 beneficial components that promote healthy brain development.

Countless studies have been done to discover the relationship between breast milk and brain development. There are a few promising findings proving that breastfed babies have IQ scores than those that are formula-fed. However, the latest research showed that once the child reaches adolescence and adulthood, breastfeeding may not have a significant link to their intelligence. This is mainly due to the variety of uncontrollable factors that may have an influence on their brain development.

Although studies are conflicting at the moments, the myriad of benefits breastmilk has remains to be superior. Other than possibly promoting intelligence, it also has complete nutrition, digestive-friendly, lowers risk for infections, and reduces the risk of SIDS.