Sandra Dodd

Just after reading Schuyler's post about breastfeeding's connection
with other factors, I was googling Bob Collier's newsletter name,
"Parental Intelligence," and lots of stuff on his shows up, and some
spy-on-your-kids nonsense, and this:

Something about this showed up in the imbedded webpage description,
but the full statement is even MORE **eeek***:

"Parental intelligence also appears to influence cognitive development."

---------------------------

Influence of breast-feeding and parental intelligence on cognitive
development in the 24-month-old child.
Gómez-Sanchiz M, Cañete R, Rodero I, Baeza JE, González JA.
Departamento de Especialidades Médico-Quirúrgicas, Spain.
Abstract
This study was designed to analyze the relationship between breast-
feeding and mental development at 24 months of age, independently of
the influence of other factors. A total of 238 babies born between
October 1995 and February 1998 were enrolled in an observational
prospective cohort study. Cognitive development was assessed using the
Bayley Infant Development Scale. The results of multiple linear
regression analysis showed that infants breast-fed for longer than 4
months scored 4.3 points higher on the mental development scale than
those breast-fed for less time. No differences were found in
psychomotor development as a function of feeding regimen or duration.
The positive linear correlation observed between parental IQ and
mental development scores at 24 months was also statistically
significant (mother: r = 0.39; p < 0.001; father: r = 0.43; p <
0.001). It may be concluded that breast-feeding for longer than 4
months has a positive effect on the child's mental development at 24
months of age. Parental intelligence also appears to influence
cognitive development.

---------------------------

Hello... Genetics?
If they didn't compare adopted kids with natural birth children as to
the correlation of parental intelligence, I don't think they should
even have mentioned it. Way most likely the breastfed babies were
biological children of the mothers. Way most likely the people they
would find who would be available throughout a two-year study would be
fairly self-selected and interested in scientific studies.

When I read a tag-on like "Parental intelligence also appears to
influence cognitive development," I'm embarrassed about all studies.
It's just dismaying.

If at the end of the description of a study on the effect of regular
meals on overall health they said that parental hair color also
appeared to influence the child's hair color, it wouldn't seem more
goofy to me. Perhaps I'm looking at the social-science research world
through goofy-colored glasses, but I think that top example came with
it's own 3-Duh goofy glasses.

While I'm on a rant, I don't like breastfeeding being shortened to
"bf." We didn't name Marty Benjamin Franklin Dodd, which I REALLY
liked as a possible name, because his initials would be BFD. It would
have reminded no one of breastfeeding.

Sandra

Robin Bentley

>
> While I'm on a rant, I don't like breastfeeding being shortened to
> "bf."

I'm doubtless showing my age, but when I was a secretary "bf" meant
the "bring forward" file: index cards behind calendar-numbered file
tabs to remind you of a task to be done every week or month or whatever.

"Bf-ing" reads like that to me.

Robin B.

Jenny Cyphers

***This study was designed to analyze the relationship between breast-
feeding and mental development at 24 months of age, independently of
the influence of other factors. ***

I don't think it's possible to analyze this independently of the influence of
other factors. Besides that, they didn't, they added "parental intelligence"!





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