A study reveals the importance of breastfeeding children during the first six weeks of their lives!

A study found that babies who were breastfed for the first six weeks of life were less likely to have special educational needs or behavioral problems.

Babies who were exclusively breastfed or given a mixture of formula and breast milk for the first six to eight weeks had a five times lower chance of developing special educational needs (SEN).

The University of Glasgow researchers looked at health and education data for 191,745 children born in Scotland from 2004 onwards, who also attended a state or SEN school between 2009 and 2013.

Of those included in the study, 66.2% of the babies were formula-fed, 25.3% were breastfed, and only 8.5% were mixed-fed for the first six to eight weeks.

Overall, 12.1% of the children in this study had SEN.

However, when compared to formula feeding, a history of mixed feeding earlier in life and exclusive breastfeeding were associated with a lower risk of SEN - 10 and 20% lower, respectively.

Babies who were exclusively breastfed were nearly a fifth less likely to have emotional or behavioral difficulties and a quarter less likely to have physical health conditions.

The findings suggest that consuming breast milk in the first few weeks of life may help reduce the risk of developing SEN, or learning disabilities and the difficulties that often cause it.

Dr Michael Fleming, who led the study, said: "We know that many women struggle to breastfeed exclusively for the full six months recommended by the World Health Organization. However, our study provides evidence that a shorter period of non-exclusive breastfeeding can improve However, it is beneficial for the child's learning development.

The results of this study suggest that the way childhood is fed can be a modifiable risk factor for causes of special educational needs, which in turn has the potential to help reduce the burden on affected children, their families and the wider community.

Breastfeeding has a range of health benefits, as it reduces the chances of some cancers and cardiovascular diseases in mothers and protects the child from infection while providing ideal nutrition for growth and development.

The study was published in the journal Plos Medicine.