As science advances, more evidence show how babies get optimum nutrition from the oldest and most primal of sources – their mother’s breast milk. Now there’s a new study that points to stronger link between breast feeding and more brain power. The effects can be seen all the way up to a child’s college years.

The American University reviewed the school performance of siblings – one that was breast fed, and one that was not – and saw that an additional month of breast feeding indicated a higher grade-point-average (GPA) of .019 points. The same extra month of breast feeding also indicated a higher probability of attending college by .014 points.

American University researchers used data from the National Longitudinal Study of Adolescent Health. 59 families were studied, involving 126 siblings whose breast feeding histories and high school grades were examined. Data on high school completion and college attendance was taken from 191 siblings from 90 families.

This study of siblings is crucial because it was able to consider hard-to-measure conditions, particularly maternal intelligence and a good family environment.

It has often been argued that breast feeding is linked to smarter children, not necessarily because of the breast milk itself, but because most mothers who choose to go breast over bottle are college-educated. Those who breast feed also tend to provide better home environments for their children.

This would be the first study to use sibling data in connecting the effect of breast feeding on high school performance and college attendance. The results were published June 11 in the Journal of Human Capital.

American University Professor Joseph Sabia says, “The results of our study suggest that the cognitive and health benefits of breast feeding may lead to important long-run educational benefits for children.”

The professor was quick to say that, this study is just a start and that more research needs to be done to establish a definitive causal link between smarter kids and breast feeding.

But for pregnant mothers out there contemplating between breast or bottle, there’s really no need to wait for that definitive link. You have to give breast feeding a shot.

Breast feeding your baby for at least a few months to a year is a practical no brainer. You will be nourishing you child with food that was perfectly formulated for her at every stage of development. Did you know that the composition of breast milk changes as your baby grows? Your own milk will have ingredients no expensive formula could ever copy.

Nursing from the breast is also a wonderful way to bond with your child. Both my kids were breast fed for 13 months. After a bit of a rough start (especially with my first child), we got on with good feeding relationships. With my second baby, prior experience made it easier to get the milk flowing. Those memories of my babies giving me satisfied, thankful smiles after a good meal are… priceless. If it helps drive up their future GPAs… then that would just be the cherry on top!

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