Breastfeeding - for a healthy baby and mum

How you feed your baby can make a difference for both of you. Breastmilk is uniquely suited to your baby’s needs.

When babies are breastfed, especially exclusively and for longer durations, they have a lower risk of a range of health problems. Mums who breastfeed, especially for longer, are less likely to experience certain health conditions themselves. 

Here’s what the research shows.

• Gastrointestinal infections: Babies who don’t receive any breastmilk are much more likely to get tummy bugs and diarrhoea. Even some breastfeeding helps, but exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months gives the strongest protection.^1,2
• Respiratory infections: Babies who who don’t receive breastmilk are much more likely to get chest infections and colds. Exclusive breastfeeding for at least 4 months gives the strongest protection, but even some breastfeeding helps reduce the risk.^1,2
• Ear infections: Babies who aren’t breastfed at all are much more likely to get ear infections in their first two years. Breastfeeding, even if not exclusive, helps, but exclusive breastfeeding for 6 months offers greatest protection. As well, the longer you breastfeed, the more protection your baby has. .³
• Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS): Babies who are breastfed have a lower risk of SIDS compared to those who aren’t breastfed.⁴
• Necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis (in premature babies): Breastfeeding protects premature babies from serious gut and blood infections, including necrotising enterocolitis and sepsis. Babies who receive breast milk have a much lower risk of these life-threatening conditions.⁵
• Childhood cancer: Babies who aren’t breastfed have the highest risk of childhood leukaemia. Some breastfeeding helps lower the risk, but exclusive and longer breastfeeding gives the greatest protection.^6,7
• Dental malocclusions: Babies who aren’t breastfed are more likely to have dental misalignment (malocclusions) as they grow. Breastfeeding, especially for longer, supports healthy jaw and teeth development.⁸
• Overweight and obesity: Breastfed children are less likely to be overweight or obese in childhood and as adults.⁹
• Type 2 diabetes: Babies who aren’t breastfed are more likely to develop type 2 diabetes later in life. Exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding for longer provide the strongest protection against type 2 diabetes.¹⁰
• IQ: Exclusive breastfeeding and breastfeeding for longer provide the strongest support for healthy brain development and higher IQ.¹¹

Not breastfeeding at all puts babies at the highest risk for many health problems. Even some breastfeeding is better than none, but exclusive breastfeeding – giving only breastmilk for about the first six months – gives your baby the strongest protection. The longer you keep breastfeeding, the more you lower your baby’s risk of illness. Every extra feed and every extra week makes a difference for your baby’s health.¹²

• Breast and ovarian cancers: Women who haven’t breastfeed have an increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer. ^13,14
• Type 2 diabetes and high blood pressure: Breastfeeding is linked to a lower risk of type 2 diabetes and hypertension.¹⁵
• Heart disease and stroke: Women who don’t breastfeed have a higher risk of heart disease and stroke.¹⁶

Research shows that the longer you breastfeed (across all your children), the less risk you face of these health problems. Every extra month of breastfeeding adds to your protection. This is called a dose–response effect.¹⁷

Health and well-being for babies and mums can be complex. Medical conditions have a number of different causes and contributing factors. So being breastfed doesn’t guarantee that your baby won’t get sick or be affected by the above conditions. Similarly, breastfeeding your baby won’t necessarily stop you from getting sick. 

However large studies and systematic reviews continue to confirm that breastfeeding is protective for large populations of people and for a number of different medical conditions. Breastfeeding and being breastfed reduce the risk of infections, obesity, cancers and chronic diseases for both babies and mums. 
 

© Australian Breastfeeding Association December 2025