Study suggests breastfeeding could reduce early childhood infections

Breastfeeding has been linked to many positive influences for the infant. The impact of breastfeeding and infections that occur after the first year of life have been studied, but the results have been mixed. An investigation in Pediatrics takes a look at if a link existed between the duration of breastfeeding and the number of infant hospitalizations that are a result of infection as well as symptoms of infection in the home.¹

The researchers used the Odense Child Cohort. They utilized text message questionnaires to ask questions about breastfeeding and symptoms of infection. Parents received questions about breastfeeding every week until their child was weaned and the questions about infection symptoms were received biweekly when their child was aged 12 to 36 months. The Danish National Patient Registry was used to find the hospitalization data.