Chocolate may make happier babies

17:00 13 April 2005

It could be the perfect excuse for mums-to-be everywhere.

Scientists in Finland say eating chocolate during pregnancy may make for happier, livelier babies.

They questioned 300 women before and after they gave birth and found those who ate chocolate daily were more likely to say they had happy babies.

According to a report in New Scientist magazine, the scientists believe mood-altering chemicals in chocolate may be responsible.

The scientists found that women who regularly ate chocolate while they were pregnant were more likely to say their babies smiled and laughed a lot. They were also more likely to say they were active.

The scientists also found apparent differences between the babies of stressed women who ate chocolate and stressed women who didn't.

The scientists said that while they could not rule out other factors, they speculated that the results could be linked to chocolate consumption.

They said chemicals in chocolate could be passed from mothers to babies in the womb.