More and more benefits of breast-feeding are being discovered. A study of over 2,600 Australian babies found that the longer a baby is breast-fed, the less the chances of respiratory infections.
According to the researchers, if breast-feeding was stopped before two months of age or partial breast-feeding was stopped before six months of age, the risk of respiratory illnesses and infections was "significantly" increased.
"Predominant breast-feedifng for at least six months and partial breast-feeding for up to one year," say the researchers, "may reduce the prevalence and subsequent morbidity (health problems) of respiratory illness and infection in infancy."
Archives of Diseases in Childhood, 3/03.
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