Breastfeeding and otitis media:
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) compared the evidence of infants fed only formula to the evidence of babies who are breastfed and found a 23% reduced risk of (middle) ear infections (otitis media [OM]) in breastfed children. Babies fed breast milk exclusively for more than three months had a 50% risk reduction of OM and, if breastfed exclusively for 6 months, the risk of OM in babies was reduced by 63%. (1)
Breastfeeding and leukemia:
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP), breastfeeding was reported to have a protective benefit against acute lymphocytic leukemia (cancer that starts from white blood cells called lymphocytes) and acute myeloid leukemia (cancer in the myeloid line of white blood cells). Babies breastfed for 6 months or longer had a 20% and 15% risk reduction of acute lymphocytic leukemia and acute myeloid leukemia, respectively. Corresponding values associated with breastfeeding for less than 6 months were 12% and 10%, respectively. (1)