<![CDATA[Early childhood development is significantly influenced by nutrition and environmental factors. Exclusive breastfeeding has been associated with various health and developmental outcomes, including motor skill development. However, existing evidence on this relationship remains scattered and inconclusive. This scoping review aimed to systematically map the available evidence on the association between exclusive breastfeeding and motor skill development in children under five years of age. The review followed the PRISMA-ScR guidelines and utilized the Arksey and O’Malley framework, enhanced by Levac and colleagues. Inclusion criteria consisted of peer-reviewed articles published between January 2013 and December 2023, involving children aged 0–59 months, examining exclusive breastfeeding as the exposure, and assessing motor development as the outcome. Both observational and experimental studies were included. Literature searches were conducted in PubMed, Google Scholar, and ScienceDirect using predefined strategies and relevant MeSH terms. Data were extracted using a standardized charting form covering study characteristics, population, methods, key findings, and outcome measures. Two reviewers independently extracted data, and a third reviewer cross-validated for accuracy. A total of 21 studies met the inclusion criteria. Thematic analysis revealed three main patterns: (1) a positive association between the duration of exclusive breastfeeding and gross motor development; (2) inconsistent findings regarding fine motor skills; and (3) contextual factors such as socioeconomic status and maternal education moderated the relationship. In conclusion, while evidence suggests a potential link between exclusive breastfeeding and motor development, causality cannot be inferred due to the predominance of observational studies. Further longitudinal and interventional research is warranted. These findings highlight the broader developmental relevance of promoting exclusive breastfeeding.]]>
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