The current work aims to assess of the cognitive development in breastefed children and compare it with artificially fed children as well as the duration of breastfeeding.

Breastfeeding provides nutritional and immunological benefits to infants and also prevents infections . Breastfeeding also has clear short-term benefits for child survival through reduction of morbidity and mortality from infectious diseases. Breastfeeding also has longterm benefits .Breastfeeding improves cognitive development and emotional interactions between the mother and infant .A previous meta-analysis of 20 studies that compared breastfeeding with formula-feeding reported that breastfeeding is associated with significantly improved cognitive development from infancy to adolescence .The results of a meta-analysis of these studies showed that breastfeeding was associated with an increase of 3•5 points (95% CI 1•9-5•0) on intelligence tests at childhood and adolescence. This beneficial effect of breastfeeding could be due to the presence of long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, such as arachidonic acid and docosahexaenoic acid in breast milk . Breastfed infants have higher concentrations of these fatty acids that are positively associated with brain development .

Child cognitive development is influenced by genetic and environmental factors . The child has a genetically determined potential for cognitive development. However environmental factors, such as adequate nutrition and the parents' ability to create a good and stimulating home environment may also have a positive influence on the child's cognitive development .Several studies have shown a positive correlation between breast feeding and cognitive development in children . In this study we measure the mental development of children by the use of Stanford binet intelligence test. It is a cognitive and intelligence test that is used diagnose developmental and intellectual deficiencies in young children .

Other risk factors affecting children's mental development should be taken in consideration like the mothers' age, educational level (lower than high school, high school diploma, college degree, university degree, and higher than a university degree), family income, job status (employed/unemployed), sex of infant, gestational age, and infant birth weight.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Children more than 3 years and till age of 5 years that present to Assiut University Hospital with acute diseases.

Exclusion Criteria:

1. Children known to have chronic disease.
2. Chidren with History of birth anoxia, birth trauma, kernictrus, epilepsy, metabolic diseases.
3. Positive family history of mental retardation.

preschool children aged from 3 to 5 years