Girls get more boost from breast-feeding than boys

WASHINGTON - Breast-feeding gives all infants numerous health advantages compared to baby formula, but in at least one respect girls get a greater benefit from breast milk than boys, researchers said on Monday.

The researchers tracked a group of very low birth weight, pre-term infants in Buenos Aires to gauge the protective effect of breast-feeding against respiratory infections in babies.

They found that infant girls who were breast-fed were far less likely than baby boys who were breast-fed to develop serious respiratory infections requiring hospitalization.

A lot of research has shown that breast-fed babies enjoy a range of health benefits compared to those given baby formula beyond combating respiratory infections.