Downloads
![Image representing the file: wp201331.pdf](/sites/default/files/output_url_files/wp201331.pdf_0.jpg)
wp201331.pdf
PDF | 6.85 MB
We show that children who are born at the weekend or just before are less likely to be breastfed, owing to poorer breastfeeding support services at weekends. We use this variation to estimate the effect of breastfeeding on children's development for a sample of uncomplicated births from low educated mothers. We find that breastfeeding has large effects on children's cognitive development, but not on non-cognitive development or health. Regarding mechanisms, we estimate how breastfeeding affects parental investments in the child and the quality of the mother-child relationship.
Authors
![Emla Fitzsimons](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-07/Emla%20Fitzsimons.jpg?itok=dRO7usQ4)
Research Fellow University College London
Emla Fitzsimons is a Professor of Economics at the University College London Institute of Education and a Research Fellow at the IFS.
![Marcos Vera Hernandez](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-06/Marcos_Vera_Hernandez.jpg?itok=TC0EwY1c)
Research Fellow University College London
Marcos is a Research Fellow at IFS, an Affiliate at the Rural Education Action Program and a Professor of Economics at the University College London.
Working Paper details
- DOI
- 10.1920/wp.ifs.2013.1331
- Publisher
- IFS
Suggested citation
Fitzsimons, E and Vera-Hernandez, M. (2013). Food for Thought? Breastfeeding and Child Development. London: IFS. Available at: https://ifs.org.uk/publications/food-thought-breastfeeding-and-child-development (accessed: 30 June 2024).
More from IFS
Understand this issue
![State Pension claim form](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2023-12/state-pension-claim-form.jpg?itok=OCixJu9J)
Where next for the state pension?
13 December 2023
![Nice houses with city in the background](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2023-12/nice-houses-with-city-in-background_0.jpg?itok=TDx-TwSe)
Social mobility and wealth
12 December 2023
![Chancellor Jeremy Hunt with red box](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2023-12/chancellor-jeremy-hunt-with-red-box.jpg?itok=Dah5hdYC)
Autumn Statement 2023: IFS analysis
23 November 2023
Policy analysis
![Welsh town with mountains behind](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Welsh-town-feature.jpg?itok=5axb5wZn)
How would the parties’ tax and spending plans affect Scotland and Wales?
28 June 2024
![Man putting vote into ballot box](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2022-07/Man-putting-vote-into-ballot-box.jpg?itok=Pa6g41dr)
General Election 2024: Manifesto Analysis Presentations
24 June 2024
![Shopping street](/sites/default/files/styles/square_desktop/public/2024-06/Street-scene-.jpg?itok=R39cR6Xp)
How do the last five years measure up on levelling up?
19 June 2024
Academic research
![Working paper cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202428-The-impact-of%20labour-demand-shocks-when-occupational-labour-supplies-are-heterogeneous.jpg?itok=Erq9-V9O)
The impact of labour demand shocks when occupational labour supplies are heterogeneous
28 June 2024
![Working Paper Cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202427-The-impact-of-flexibility-at-work-on-fertility_Page_01.jpg?itok=pHaEvbkK)
The impact of flexibility at work on fertility
11 June 2024
![Working Paper Cover](/sites/default/files/styles/portrait/public/2024-06/WP202426-Intergenerational-mobility-in-socio-emotional-skills_Page_01.jpg?itok=wH1znQhh)
Intergenerational mobility in socio-emotional skills
5 June 2024