A new study finds that infants breastfed for at least six months are less likely to experience developmental delays compared to those fed infant formula. Published in JAMA Network Open on March 24, the research reinforces the benefits of breastfeeding as the optimal source of nutrition for newborns.
Concerns have been raised about the aggressive marketing of formulas like Similac and Enfamil, which promote cow’s milk-based products as alternatives to breast milk. Studies show that formula lacks the protective benefits of breastfeeding and may increase the risk of premature infants developing necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), a life-threatening condition.
Israeli researchers studied data from over half a million children born between 2014 and 2020. They found that 52.1% of infants were breastfed for at least six months, and these babies showed fewer delays in language, social, and motor skills. Infants breastfed for six months were 25% less likely to have developmental delays.
The study also found that siblings, with one breastfed for six months and the other not, had lower chances of developmental issues if breastfed. Researchers concluded that longer breastfeeding durations are linked to fewer developmental and neurodevelopmental delays.
Meanwhile, lawsuits are being filed by families whose premature infants developed NEC after using formulas. These families allege that manufacturers like Abbott Laboratories (Similac) and Mead Johnson (Enfamil) failed to warn about the risks. Federal lawsuits are being centralized in Illinois for early trial dates and potential settlement negotiations.
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