According to a new study in The Journal of Pediatrics, breastfeeding your baby for six months or longer may reduce their risk for mental health problems later on.

As a mother of three breastfed children, and as a health professional, I’m pleased to hear about yet another benefit of breastfeeding, but I have to wonder: Is this great news for nursing moms, a source of guilt for moms who choose infant formula for feeding their babies from the get-go or after a few months of nursing, or both?

It’s probably both.

Nobody is sure what the connection is between nursing and a sunnier disposition in kids.  Nursing may help children cope better with stress, and may be a sign of a stronger mother-child bond that helps a child feel secure and less stressed.

In this study of nearly 2,400 children born to Australian women, children were given mental health assessments at two, five, eight, 10 and 14 years of age.  The researchers reported that kids who were breastfed for shorter periods of time exhibited worse behavior and tended to have bleaker outlooks.

Maybe the mothers had something to do with their child’s mental health and view of the world.  Moms who breastfed their infants for less than six months were poorer, younger, more likely to smoke, less educated, and reported more stress and postpartum depression - factors that influence child development. But even when the researchers adjusted for social, economic, and psychological factors, breastfeeding for six months or longer remained associated with better mental health in children and teens.

I’m a big fan of breastfeeding, and I think women should at least  give it a try. However, there’s no reason to feel guilty because of what this, or any other study says, if you choose infant formula instead of breast milk.

Have you seen my other blog at USAToday.com?  It features tips for feeding your family healthy foods, and offers a weekly recipe that I prepare with my children as part of Cooking With My Kids.  This week’s recipe is Broccoli Slaw, and it’s delicious and easy to make! Check it out at http://tinyurl.com/4×2e5x.