www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/infant-and-young-child-feeding" rel="noreferrer noopener" target="_blank">World Health Organization recommends that babies should exclusively breastfeed for at least the first six months of their lives and continue alongside the introduction of other foods for at least two years, as breastmilk contains the nutrients and antibodies needed to help infants thrive. Beyond physical development, a new study from researchers in the Department of Human Development and Family Studies found that breastfeeding also had a positive impact on the mother's parenting quality and, in turn, on the infant's secure attachment to the mother. In addition, the study revealed that such secure attachment can also result from supportive co-parenting, regardless of whether the mother chose to breastfeed or not.
The findings were published in the Journal of Human Lactation.
"Breastfeeding incorporates both physical touch and the mother's ability to be sensitive. A positive breastfeeding experience is important and has clear positive benefits for both the baby and the mother," said Doug Teti, distinguished professor of human development and family studies and professor of psychology and pediatrics at Penn State and senior author on the paper. "Good quality support from partners is also beneficial in helping mothers bond with their infants, but our results show that partner support may be especially helpful to mothers who are unable or unwilling to breastfeed their infants."
