Babies develop normally when they are fed either breast milk or formula, a new study confirms. Babies' brains developed equally well when fed either cow's milk or soy formulas. Those who got breast milk had slightly better learning and thinking skills. The study was based on tests of 391 healthy infants. They received tests of mental development at ages 3, 6, 9 and 12 months. The journal Pediatrics published the study online May 28.

By Henry H. Bernstein, D.O.
Harvard Medical School

What Is the Doctor's Reaction?

There are so many decisions to make when you are expecting a baby. What should you name your baby? What color should you paint the nursery? One of the most important decisions new parents must make is what to feed the baby -- breast milk or formula?

Breastfeeding may not be possible for some women. Other mothers may decide breastfeeding is not for them. If not breastfeeding, formula is the next best thing.

The two main types of infant formula are:

• Cow's milk-based formulas -- Most infant formula is made with cow's milk.
• Soy-based formulas -- They are used for babies who have trouble digesting lactose or who are allergic to cow's milk.

Both types of formula let infants grow well. But do infants have normal development when they are fed either type of formula? Is their development as good as that of infants who are breastfed?

A recent study published in the journal Pediatrics looks at these questions. Researchers kept track of the development of 391 infants during their first year of life. They compared the infants' development based on whether they were fed:

• Breast milk
• Cow's milk-based formula
• Soy-based formula

Researchers documented no differences between the two formula-fed groups. Infants getting soy-based formula developed just as well as infants fed cow's milk-based formula.

The researchers found that all the babies, both formula-fed and breastfed, were developing normally. They also found that breastfed infants had slightly better "cognitive development" than formula-fed infants. Cognitive development includes the baby's ability to:

• Think
• Learn
• Understand
• Solve problems
• Reason
• Remember

What Changes Can I Make Now?

If you are pregnant, talk with your doctor about breastfeeding. The American Academy of Pediatrics says breast milk is the best nutritional choice for infants.

Breast milk is the only "food" a baby needs for the first 6 months of life. Infants should be breastfed for as long as possible. A full year is best. If that doesn't happen, this study shows that these two types of formula can help babies to grow and develop almost as well as breast milk.

Breast milk is best for babies because it:

• Is nutritious. Breast milk is full of nutrients that promote development and help the brain grow. Breast milk naturally has many of the vitamins and minerals that a newborn needs.
• Is easily digested. Breast milk is the most easily digested food your baby can eat. Breastfed babies tend to have less diarrhea and constipation.
• Fights disease. Things like antibodies found in breast milk help babies fight germs and be protected from illness. This protection is special. It cannot be gained from drinking formula. Breast milk helps protect against:
  
  • Ear infections
  • Diarrhea
  • Respiratory infections
  • Meningitis (serious illness that affects the membranes around the brain and spinal cord)
  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Diabetes
  • Obesity
  • Sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS)

Breastfeeding also has long-term health benefits for a mother. It can:

• Improve the bond between her and her baby
• Help her lose weight
• Make her less stressed out
• Lower her risk of cancer

What Can I Expect Looking to the Future?

Expect your doctor to encourage you to breastfeed your baby. Breastfeeding should continue for as long as possible, at least until your baby is 6 months old. New mothers should also be receiving more support for breastfeeding in the workplace.

Lactation specialists and breastfeeding support groups are always looking for better ways of teaching mothers to breastfeed. They also want to help mothers to be more comfortable breastfeeding and to make the process less demanding. These approaches will be studied to figure out which ones work the best.

Breastfeeding may be painful and challenging at times. Don't be afraid to ask for help! Some resources for breastfeeding mothers include:

• The American Academy of Pediatrics
• La Leche League
• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention