Breastfeeding study links exclusive nursing to better sleep and fewer ADHD symptoms — as Germany pulls plug on reading program
29.06.2026 - 05:24:04 | boerse-global.de
A pair of new international studies adds weight to the argument that six months of exclusive breastfeeding yields lasting developmental gains. Researchers in Japan and Norway have published findings showing measurable reductions in sleep deprivation and attention-deficit symptoms among infants who received only breast milk in the first half-year of life.
The Japanese team, from the University of Toyama, analysed data from roughly 83,000 mother-child pairs. Their results, appearing in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, indicate that children breastfed exclusively for six months faced a 23 percent lower risk of sleep deprivation at age one. The scientists point to a direct link between early diet and the development of biological rhythms, with breast milk apparently supporting recovery phases in toddlers.
Separately, a Norwegian study covering 37,600 families, published in Biological Psychiatry, found that exclusive breastfeeding through the sixth month reduced the likelihood of ADHD symptoms in children aged three to eight. The University of Bergen researchers see this as confirmation of breast milk’s preventive role in neurological development and behavioural regulation.
Practical tips for storing expressed milk
For parents who need to stockpile milk — when returning to work or arranging childcare — current guidelines recommend the following:
- Freezing: Keep at minus 18 degrees Celsius or colder for up to 12 months
- Portioning: Use BPA-free containers holding 60 to 120 millilitres
- Thawing: Let stand 24 hours in the refrigerator, or use a water bath — never a microwave
- After thawing: Use within two hours at room temperature, or 24 hours if refrigerated
Meanwhile, a flagship early-literacy programme faces the axe
While infant nutrition commands broad consensus as a cornerstone of healthy development, a different kind of early-childhood intervention is being wound down. Germany’s federal reading programme “Lesestart 1–2–3”, which since 2011 has distributed free books during paediatrician visits, is slated to end in 2027. The initiative cost roughly €40 million over its lifetime.
Critics of the decision point to troubling data: around 25 percent of German fourth-graders lack adequate reading skills. At the same time, Oxford University researchers warn that commercial apps for toddlers, despite high download numbers, contribute little to language development.
