Longitudinal effects of breastfeeding on parent-reported child behaviour

Objective: Shorter breastfeeding duration has been linked to a range of difficulties in children. However, evidence linking shorter breastfeeding duration to child behavioural problems has been inconclusive. Owing to an almost exclusive focus on early childhood in previous research, little is known about breastfeeding effects on behaviour throughout childhood and adolescence. This study examines the longitudinal effect of breastfeeding on parent-reported behaviour in children aged 3 to 14. Design: Data comes from the Millennium Cohort Study, a large, prospective, UK birth cohort study. Participants: 11148 children, their parents and teachers. Methods: This study maps the effect of breastfeeding duration on parent-reported child behaviour longitudinally, using latent growth curve modelling and on teacher-reported child behaviour using multiple regression analyses. Breastfeeding duration was assessed through parent interviews at child age 9-months. Children’s behavioural development was measured using parent-reported Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaires (SDQ) at 3, 5, 7, 11 and 14 years and teacher-reported SDQs at 7 and 11 years. Results: Breastfeeding was associated with fewer parent-reported behavioural difficulties at all ages even after adjusting for potential confounders (<2 months: B= -0.22, 95% CI= -0.39 to -0.04; 2-4 months: B= -0.53, 95% CI= -0.75 to -0.32; 4-6 months: B= -1.07, 95% CI= -1.33 to -0.81; >6 months: B= -1.24, 95% CI= -1.44 to -1.04; B= adjusted mean difference of raw SDQ scores at age 3, reference: never breastfed). Conclusion: This study provides further evidence supporting links between breastfeeding duration and children’s socio-emotional behavioural development. Potential implications include intervention strategies encouraging breastfeeding.