MRI Study Shows Breastfed Babies Have More Brain Development – Bring On The Formula Mommy Guilt

Breastfed Babies Have More Brain Development I hate doing this to you guys because I know a lot of moms formula feed for many different reasons and even though this is great news for breastfeeding babies, it sort of feels like this new research is simply stating:

HEY YOU FORMULA FEEDING MOMS YOU ARE RAISING STUPID BABIES.

Which is so not the case. I wish someone would do a study on which Nobel laureates were formula fed as infants so every time I reported on new studies that show the positive aspects of breastfeeding I could whip out the formula feeding list and make you bottle mamas feel better. So first the study, from the International Business Times, which claims breastfed babies have more brain development:

Researchers from Brown University looked at the brain growth of children under 4-years-old who were breastfed exclusively for at least three months. The infants underwent baby-friendly MRI scans, which showed that by the age of 2, those who  were solely breastfed had enhanced growth in parts of their brains related to language, emotional function and cognition, according to a press release.

“We’re finding the difference [in white matter growth] is on the order of 20 to 30 percent, comparing the breastfed and the non-breastfed kids,” Sean Deoni, assistant professor of engineering at Brown and the study’s lead author, said. “I think it’s astounding that you could have that much difference so early.”

Well, yeah, it’s fantastic breastfed babies have enhanced growth in parts of their brains but come on! Do we really want super smart babies anyway? Smart babies are dangerous babies! Next thing you know you are trying to do the right thing by breastfeeding and your baby is swiping your ATM card from your purse and ordering a Slushy Magic off the television. I’m totally against smart babies. And if breastfeeding enhances the brain growth in the part of the brain that relate to language, that isn’t such great news anyway because there is nothing creepier than a talking baby.

Breastfeeding is an awesome thing. I breastfed all my kids. I think women should get as much support and help and encouragement with breastfeeding as possible. It just bums me out that someone will read this study and feel more mom guilt about their parenting choices in feeding their infants. Stupid science, we are all doing the best we can.

(Photo:  MitarArt/shutterstock)

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