They Say: Breast-feeders Get Better Grades — This Time for Real!
I had always thought I’d wean my kids before freshman year in high school. But a new study has me rethinking those plans.
Researchers compared siblings’ achievements in families where one child was breastfed while the other was given formula. You guessed it, the breastfed kid won!
The study compared 126 children from 59 families and here’s what they found [via MSNBC]:
For an additional month of breastfeeding, high school GPA increased .019 points while the probability of going to college increased .014.
So like, if I could convince the babes to keeping suckling beyond middle school as originally planned, we’re totally set! Or maybe not.
Joseph Sabia, American University professor who focuses on health economics and one of the lead researchers of the study published in the Journal of Human Capital, said the results are just a start. He said that the results are only a hint that breast-feeding may benefit in the long-run, but do not establish a causal link.
There’s also no information on what an “additional month” is. Each month after six months? Each month after birth? A year?
What makes this study special, the researchers say, is that they compared differently fed siblings. This allowed them to account for maternal intelligence and home environment as influencing factors.
(Maternal intelligence is off the charts in our house, but it’s good to know others have a fighting chance.)
The study doesn’t take into account the boob vs. bottle factor that Hanna Rosin pointed out in her Atlantic article, The Case Against Breastfeeding. A study truly setting out to find whether breast milk makes for higher-achievement would need to compare formula fed babies with those who exclusively pump.
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Tags: breast vs. bottle, breastfeeding, breastmilk, formula, intelligence, Madeline Holler, siblings
11 Comments
[...] Breast-feeding Boosts Grades a Bunch [...]
The Pain of Kids Waaaaay After Birth | Strollerderby commented on Jun 15 09 at 3:18 pmPlumbLucky commented on Jun 15 09 at 2:34 pmOr maybe “they” could quit spending time studying and start spending time figuring out how to get easier access to lactation consultants (under insurance), training doctors/hospitals, finding a way to get decent maternity leave…etc.etc.etc. All the things that make a lengthy time of breastfeeding even possible!
And you’re correct, I’d like to see a study of formula vs. boob vs. pumped (and even vs. mix of all of the above).
Brett Singer commented on Jun 15 09 at 3:57 pmHey, let’s not complicate these studies with useful data.
korinthia commented on Jun 15 09 at 9:48 pmIs it possible that this may actually be a birth order effect? I would hope they controlled for that in the study, because my first thought was that you might have more opportunity for breast feeding a firstborn, but formula may be more convenient with the next child while trying to also care for the first, and there are statistics describing higher academic achievement in firstborns.
PlumbLucky commented on Jun 16 09 at 7:11 amBut I’m the first born in my family…and wasn’t breastfed for medical reasons. My (younger) siblings were as Mom didn’t have HBP with those pregnancies and wasn’t on meds post delivery for it. My siblings and I did similarly well in school, albeit we’re all stronger in different areas. I’m “math”, my sister is “English and social studies”, my brother is “science”.
Shana commented on Jun 16 09 at 9:34 amPlumbLucky, this is why when they do studies they look at more than one family. You do realise that not all families are going to be the “norm.” Why is it whenever there is some study that says doing “blank” comes out, everyone feels the need to say “well, we didn’t do that and we’re fine?” Breastfeed if you can, if you can’t find the best alternative. The whole point is to just provide the best for your kids that you can, not try to prove to everyone you’re doing your job right.
GP commented on Jun 16 09 at 11:19 amI don’t think any study is needed to support the naturally-occurring way of feeding babies and small children. It’s obvious through our biology and that of the many species of mammals we see that breastmilk is the optimal food for these young ones. But, I understand why sites like Babble, with their Similac banner ads, would need to try and give play to doubt on the matter and post weirdly surreal pics of a middle-aged ugly looking woman nursing two very large children. There’s formula to be sold!
PlumbLucky commented on Jun 16 09 at 12:13 pmShana - that’s why my first comment was that they should stop trying to control for all the variables and try to come up with some better policy instead of just the lip service paid to it right now. kornithia had mentioned birth order - another variable - and I gave an example of what happened in my family which would have thrown yet another wrinkle into things. (I have to agree with GP,there isn’t much way to eliminate or control for all variables with this one. Lets just say with my background and career, I have done a study or ten!!!)
Feed your babies how it works best for you, that’s my theory. We shouldn’t be questioning each other and our decisions are just those. Decisions made by each family for the best of that family.
Suzy commented on Jun 16 09 at 12:36 pmThe “boosts” referred to in the article are pretty negligible - ..019 and .014. Um, not exactly, “my sister went to Yale and I drive a milk truck” - but whatever. Moreover, I don’t think that being smarter necessary translates into being more successful or happier in life. But, I digress. I am also curious how they can possibly reduce all of the factors that shape siblings within a family to being breastfed when the “advantage” is so inconsequential? Did they also study families where none of the children were breastfed to see if a similar percentage boost occurred based upon birth order or gender? Oh, and that picture is WAY creepy.
GP commented on Jun 16 09 at 12:53 pmYeah…do tell where that picture came from. Is is a Cindy Sherman? Please tell me those boys are over 18!
Brit-Bertram commented on Jul 29 09 at 3:14 pmDamn, that sound’s so easy if you think about it.
