Breast-feeding proponents have disposed the various benefits of keeping babies off the bottle, say it results not only in a more robust immune system, healthier lungs, and brings on anti-obesity advantages.

 Now, they may have yet another benefit to brag about – a lower likeihood of a breast-fed child developing sleep-related breathing disorders, such as sleep apnea, and snoring. Breast-feeding beyond two months also showed promise in reducing the severity of the symptoms seen with certain breathing problems, according to the researchers.

“We saw real benefits in children who were breast-fed up to five months, and some showed resultes for being breast-fed up to one year,” says Hawley Montgomery-Downs, professor of professor of psychology at the University of West Virginia.

 In a report released at the annual meeting of the Associated Professional Sleep Societies, 197 parents completed a survey about breast-feeding habits while their children participated in an overnight sleep study. The University of West Virginia researchers found that children who were breast-fed for at least two months as infants had lower rates of sleep-related breathing disorders. Of special concern to pediatricians in childhood sleep apnea. In this condition, infants of children stop breathing while they are asleep, this can lead to disruped sleep and eventaully brain damage.

 Other children’s health expersts not affiliated with the study agreed that the findings suggest new mothers may be better off breast-feeing their kids. The study alerts parents that breast-feeding should always be considered, both for the short-term and long-term benefits when deciding how to feed your baby. It also encoutages parents to continue to breast-feed past two months.

So, why does breast-feeding have this effect?

 The research shows there are two possible explanations for the link between breast-feeing and a few sleep-related breathing problems in children. One is taht the special componets of breast milk give protection against exposure to viruses, which in turn leads to a stronger immune system. The other possibilty is that the actual act of breast-feeding itself -sucking on the breast- helps develop better bone structure for infants who breast-feed; there becomes more space in the upper airways for breathing, especially during sleeping. One out of four infants and children experience sleep-related breathing disorders. These complications project in a childs’ proformance in school, behavior and even cognitive developments.

  The authors of the study admit that while there is still more research to be done on this topic, the study offers “just one more bit of evidence that breast-feeding is very important.