What Can Happen to Your Baby If You Breastfeed Exclusively, According to Studies

Breastfeeding has long been championed as the gold standard in infant nutrition, but what does the science say about the effects of exclusive breastfeeding on your baby’s development? Let’s delve into the research-backed benefits and considerations, steering clear of stereotypes and focusing on evidence-based insights.

Exclusive breastfeeding means providing only breast milk—no formula, water, or solids.

Both the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommend this practice to ensure optimal growth, development, and health for your baby.

• A large-scale study involving over 570,000 children revealed that longer or exclusive breastfeeding is linked to fewer developmental delays. Children who were exclusively breastfed for six months or more showed higher problem-solving skills at age 3 compared to those who were never breastfed.
  In addition, exclusive breastfeeding has been shown to boost cognitive development. Studies consistently find that breastfed infants outperform bottle-fed babies on mental tests.
• Moreover, research suggests that exclusive breastfeeding supports key language milestones. Babies who were exclusively breastfed showed an increased ability to produce monobabbling and responded better to the word “no.”

• Exclusive breastfeeding may also play a role in social and emotional growth. Research indicates that infants exclusively breastfed for at least four months scored higher in social interaction tests at both 6 and 12 months compared to their non-breastfed peers.

• Beyond developmental milestones, exclusive breastfeeding offers several physical health benefits for infants. Breast milk provides ideal nutrition, supports growth and development, and can help protect babies against certain illnesses and diseases.

While exclusive breastfeeding offers numerous benefits, it’s important to remember that it isn’t always feasible for every family.

Factors like maternal health, work commitments, and personal preferences play a significant role in feeding decisions. What’s crucial is recognizing that any amount of breastfeeding is beneficial. Parents should make feeding choices that align with their unique circumstances and values.

Public opinion on breastfeeding varies, and it’s important to acknowledge the diversity of experiences and perspectives:

• Of course, fed is best. No one is dismissing that. Studies like this are just finding associations that might make one better than the other, but of course, not conclusive. Also, just because one might be better than the other, it doesn’t make the other wrong.
  It’s mainly saying if you have BOTH options, and you are deciding which one to follow, these are some things you could consider. This is not for people who don’t have both options. Also, always note that it’s an association, not necessarily causation, and there are always exceptions. It’s just a trend. © Enamoure / Reddit
• I’m not saying there’s not some effect there, but don’t beat yourself up if you don’t exclusively breastfeed. There are far more important things for your child for their development, like having lots of good playtime with them. Plus, kids who don’t develop language skills as quickly will usually catch up. © eat_a_pine_cone / Reddit
• People arguing over which one is better than the other are missing the point. The answer is the best way to feed your child is going to be specific to the parent and child in question. © AdmiralChucK / Reddit

In the end, the message is clear: Support parents in making the best decisions for their families, and remember, there’s no one-size-fits-all approach.

Now that you’ve explored the science behind exclusive breastfeeding, why stop there? Let’s turn the spotlight on some of the most common health myths we all grew up believing—and might still secretly trust. In the next part, we’ll separate fact from fiction so you can make smarter, evidence-based choices for yourself and your family. Get ready to bust some myths wide open!