Infants breastfed in their first six to eight weeks use fewer healthcare services, a study suggests.
The research used datasets from 502,948 babies born between 1997 and 2009. Among them, 27% were exclusively breastfed, 9% mixed and 64% formula fed. Additionally, researchers looked at occurrence of 10 common childhood conditions from birth to 27 months, hospital admissions, primary care consultations, and prescriptions.
Findings showed, on average, that breastfed infants used fewer healthcare services and incurred lower costs compared to infants fed any formula. Researchers calculated that £10million of healthcare costs could have been avoided if all formula fed infants had been exclusively breastfed instead.
The study concludes: ‘The benefits of breastfeeding were clear for infants across the spectrum of socio-economic circumstances… as was the “extra” burden of ill health due to formula feeding in both primary and secondary care settings. Ensuring that all infants have the best nutritional start can contribute to reducing inequalities in early childhood.’
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