The public health community around the world acknowledges the importance of breastfeeding during World Breastfeeding Week, August 1-7. Breastfeeding is the ideal way to provide newborns and infants with the nourishment they need for healthy growth and development.

Breastfeeding has been shown to protect children from many illnesses, from stomach viruses to meningitis, protect children from obesity and lower a baby’s risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Many benefits extend beyond early childhood. In fact, a study released this week in the Journal of the American Medical Association links breastfeeding to cognition, particularly increased IQ among young children.