Comforting news: Breastfeeding's a boon for the child's mental health.

RODALE NEWS, EMMAUS, PA—There have been piles of studies looking at the physical benefits of breastfeeding, both for mom and baby. Now the results of new research that followed children for 14 years suggests that there are long-lasting benefits for mental health as well.

THE DETAILS: Australian researchers studied nearly 2,500 children born to women participating in the Western Australia Pregnancy Cohort Study. At ages 2, 5, 8, 10, and 14 the children also underwent mental-health screenings. Slightly more than half of the children were breastfed for more than six months, 38 percent were breastfed for less than six months, and 11 percent were not breastfed at all. At each screening, the children who'd been breastfed for more than six months had better scores than those who had less than six months of breastfeeding, even when social and economic factors were taken into account. The study authors say the concentrated nutrients and strong mother-child bond created through regular breastfeeding are likely the factors that reduce the risk of mental-health problems in breastfed children.

WHAT IT MEANS: Many studies have documented the benefits of breastfeeding, including a lower risk of post-partum depression. And a study published last year found that mothers who breastfed enjoyed better heart health, and their babies were also healthier. Other studies have found that breastfed children enjoy long-lasting protection of a boosted immune system, reduced risk of ear and respiratory infections, GI disorders, types 1 and 2 diabetes, allergies, asthma, leukemia, and even SIDS. While all these benefits are very important, many experts believe it's not just the composition of the breast milk that provides these benefits, but also the mind-body connection that occurs during regular breastfeeding. "We're going to see this is the wave of the future; research not just looking at components of breast milk, but components of the relationship between mother and child and how it impacts physical and mental health as well," says Kathy Kendall-Tackett, PhD, an International Board of Lactation Consultant and clinical associate professor of pediatrics at Texas Tech University School of Medicine.

Read on to find out how to increase your chances of breastfeeding successfully.