Reading studies like this can be hard on young moms who, for whatever reason, were unable to breastfeed their babies. There is already enough to worry about without additional guilt.
Not only did my mom feed me formula, she admits to sometimes leaving me with a bottle propped up with blankets so she could get things done. That didn’t ruin my future academic life, nor did my mother-in-law breastfeeding all her children guarantee their academic success.
As a far as the future health benefits provided by breastfeeding, they aren’t a guarantee either. I’m doing much better than my sister-in-laws, it’s not the diet of only your first year that counts.
I nursed all my babies for the first year because I think it is the best option, but it is not the only option.
Well, my post is raising the possibility of the opposite: that breastfeeding might have little to no actual influence on future child success, except insofar as those who breastfeed might be otherwise likely or able to raise highly successful kids.