Breastfeeding is a unique, instinctive, and essential part of every child’s growth and development. It is well known that breast milk represents the gold standard of child's nutrition and is recommended by all professional organizations because of all its benefits. Research has shown the benefits of breastfeeding and that breastfeeding has long-term effects on child's health. By reviewing the existing scientific and professional research literature, this paper sought to higlight the most important positive effects that breasttfeeding has on three important areas of child development: cognitive, socio-emotional and immune development. Numerous scientific papers have proven the positive effect of breastfeeding on the cognitive development of the child. Several mechanisms are involved, among which the activity of polyunsaturated fatty play a significant role in influencing the myelination of a child's brain. Breastfeeding has a particularly significant effect on the cognitive and neurological development of premature infants. Breastfeeding is associated with a more efficient memory development, better language skills, advanced motoric skills, as well as higher intelligence not only during the preschool years but also later in life. In the area of socio-emotional development of the child, some of the breastfeeding effects are: increased interaction and emotional relationships between mothers and their children, reduced development of behavioral problems and decreased development of some of the autism spectrum diseases. The protective effect of breastfeeding has been proven for mothers in postpartum mood swings as it reduces stress in the mother. In the area of the child's immune development, the following benefits of breastfeeding have been proven: lower susceptibility to infections of the digestive and respiratory systems. Moreover, a child is less likely to be obese or suffer from certain immune-mediated diseases later in life. For all these benefits of breastfeeding to be realized, the help and support of breastfeeding mothers is essential, with the social environment being of great importance in encouraging breastfeeding and its promotion.