PA
Researchers are urging the Government to encourage mums to breastfeed to improve social mobility.
A study at the University of Essex's Institute of Social & Economic Research (ISER) and the University of Oxford found that babies who are breastfed are more intelligent and less likely to have behavioural problems in later life.
The findings showed that breastfeeding has a positive impact on a child's social mobility by boosting its IQ.
They researchers are now asking the Government to act on the study and include the importance of breastfeeding in its plan for improving social mobility.
In a report which will discussed at a conference on Wednesday, the researchers claim:
'Aligning breastfeeding with social mobility may seem tenuous, but a body of research shows that an individual's behavioural and psycho-social outcomes have a significant impact on adult earnings and education.'
Do you agree?
Should the government do more to promote breastfeeding?
Do you agree it does have an effect on children's behaviour and social mobility?
Or might it be that women who breastfeed may be more 'socially mobile'?