(Photo: fisher-price)
Researchers at Davis Medical Center, California, USA, recommend that young mothers should breastfeed their babies for at least the first 6 months of life.
The recommendation was made after a survey of 2,277 infants between 6 and 24 months of age conducted by the US National Institute of Nutrition and Health.
Results showed that in the first 2 years of life, babies who were exclusively breastfed for the first 4 months were more likely to have pneumonia and otitis media than breastfed babies for 2 months.
Only nearly 2% of infants breastfed for more than 6 months have pneumonia compared to 6% of 4-month breastfed infants. For otitis media, this rate is 20% in 6-month-old infants compared to 27% in 4-month-old infants.
Dr. Caroline ChanTi said: "Breastmilk, besides its ability to protect respiratory organs, has an effective anti-inflammatory and bactericidal effect . "
KHANG LINH (According to Pediatrics)
