I have to agree with the argument that the prior should be that breastfeeding is beneficial and we would need massive and strong evidence to the contrary to change that position. It is an expensive process so it must have an evolutionary advantage.
The analysis presented here seems convincing in the sense that we don’t have good evidence that breastfeeding increases IQ. But from what I remember there is good evidence that it improves the baby’s immune system among many other things.
So bottom line is in the absence of massive amounts of strong evidence against breastfeeding, by default you should favour it. And if in the end the IQ effect isn’t real at least you improved your baby’s health (and hence survival chances). If you have the option to breastfeed, go for it.
And as the article stated, if for whatever reason you cannot or will not you probably don’t need to feel too bad about it because the effects while positive are at the margin to the best of our current knowledge and formula is getting better every decade.
The analysis presented here seems convincing in the sense that we don’t have good evidence that breastfeeding increases IQ. But from what I remember there is good evidence that it improves the baby’s immune system among many other things.
So bottom line is in the absence of massive amounts of strong evidence against breastfeeding, by default you should favour it. And if in the end the IQ effect isn’t real at least you improved your baby’s health (and hence survival chances). If you have the option to breastfeed, go for it.
And as the article stated, if for whatever reason you cannot or will not you probably don’t need to feel too bad about it because the effects while positive are at the margin to the best of our current knowledge and formula is getting better every decade.