breastfeeding reduces the risk of SIDS by 50%

jen_and_tom · March 2009

A new study has found conclusive evidence that breastfeeding (exclusively and in combination with bottle feeding) can reduce SIDS risk by ~50%.

https://tinyurl.com/d8usv8

JRS72206 · March 2009

I also read somewhere that using a fan can greatly reduce the risk. I can't remember the exact number, but it's the reason we have one in DD's room. SIDS haunts me so every step they make towards figuring it out put my mind at ease a little more.

applecider · March 2009

JRS72206:
I also read somewhere that using a fan can greatly reduce the risk. I can't remember the exact number, but it's the reason we have one in DD's room. SIDS haunts me so every step they make towards figuring it out put my mind at ease a little more.

I use a fan too. Even though C was born in January...

cwhip77 · March 2009

That's too funny about the fans. My mother NEVER let us use fans when we were sleeping as kids. Apparently it's an old wive's tale in Korea that a fan will "push" the breath back into a baby and cause it to suffocate. I thought my mom was just being weird until I heard other people with Korean moms who said the same thing.

scarletii · March 2009

Both my kids sleep my fans. Well, hannah doesn't anymore, but she did the 1st two years! I tried to get Gavin to sleep without one, but I think he needs some noise since he was used to sleeping in a noisy womb!

Jas*sGirl · March 2009

Phew thank god my adoptive daughter made it.

I really went back and forth on if I wanted to post a comment or not. I decided to trust my gut and just go with it. I appreciate you letting any mommies to be know about the study, I just wish you would have went about it a little different way. Maybe say hey there is a study about breastfeeding and SIDS that I thought some of you might find interesting. The way you titled your post made it feel like those of us that did not breastfeed our children love them less. Which is so far from the truth. Many mommies on here struggled tremendously with breast feeding, others had children that got sick from their breast milk. Do you think we want our children to die from SIDS because we could not or did not breastfeed? I am sure I am taking your post way out of text here I just wanted to gently remind you because BF worked for you it may not work for everyone. I was the one many strangers looked down on when they found out I was not breastfeeding....even though they did not know the situation. It really hurts people when you are scrutinized for something like this especially when sometimes it is out of your hands.

applecider · March 2009

I've been scrutinizing the breastfeeding studies ever since someone posted that article by Hanna Rosin.

The problem with these studies is that babies aren't randomly assigned to groups so there may be confounding factors.

For example, firstborn babies are more likely to be breastfed and less likely to die of SIDS than their subsequent siblings. Maybe by studying all those breastfed babies they're really studying older vs. younger siblings? Just my two scientist cents.

jen_and_tom · March 2009

I just thought the study was interesting. Obviously I feel strongly about bfing but I certainly wasn't trying to imply that not breastfeeding means that you don't love your child or that you aren't balancing out all of the factors unique to your situation in being the best parent for your child. I put fully padded 15" high thick bumpers in my baby's crib and have allowed her to sleep with me, with a blanket, what have you since she was born (all supposedly SIDS risks).

I know breastfeeding is an emotional subject and I know people IRL in addition to the stories on line that have struggled with wanting to and not being able to; succeeding and the baby not thriving; succeeding and hating it because of wanting her body back; and just plan choosing not to.

I appologize for not choosing a more sensitive title and thank you for taking the time to let me know that you were offended and why (sincerely).

Jen

Jas*sGirl · March 2009

Thanks Jen! I appreciate you being open to seeing it from all sides. I also appreciate you not getting upset and being sincere. I was not trying to be mean just letting you know that many woman hurt because they can not BF and would love to do all the "right" things for their child!

IdahoGirl · March 2009

Tam - you completely read my mind with your original post.

I think SIDS is a very serious issue, but I also think the pendulum has swung SO far onto one side of that issue that they have us terrified to do anything that might *possibly* be a cause, such that we now do things that are a little wonky, in my own opinion, just to avert what may possibly happen.

We might also get hit by a bus if we cross the street....

There are so many things to worry about as a mom - and I'm seriously the queen of over worriers - sometimes I just have to ignore some of the studies and go with my gut.

I'm sure there are other Moms out there that secretly do the same thing.

nykola · March 2009

My brother died of SIDS and I was there when it happened. Since then my mother has been very active in the SIDS community, writing articles and whatnot. I think it's awesome that many strides have been made to offer suggestions on what may help reduce the risk. The reality is though, they really just don't know what causes it. It truly is a mystery in so many ways. They've been speculating for decades. Even back when my brother died there was lots of theories going around about to do and what not to do.

I agree with IG that indeed to a certain degree parents are now scared out of their wits about what to do and what not to do. I'm sure when our baby comes, I'll be cautious in every way possible. Still, I think it's important to recognize that most of what we are told, is still just theory. SIDS is probably one of the most frustrating things to understand. It haunts me to this day.

Seattle_JiLLn · March 2009

fwiw, I don't see anything in the original post that says that non-BF'ers love their children less or are bad moms. She just posted an article, and said what the article concluded.

I do understand that BF'ing is a hot button and I know that there is a lot of emotion tied up in it, especially if you have problems that prohibit you from BF'ing even if you wanted to. I know there is a huge push to BF and I imagine that if you don't BF you feel pressure to defend yourself. Which you sholdn't have to. It's a parenting decision, a medical decision, a personal decision.

But I don't think the original poster meant any harm by this at all.

N.CarolinaGirl · March 2009

Just to chime in - I was at first worried that your post would be yet another slam (not from you, but that I see on the Boards) on moms who didn't breastfeed for whatever reason. Reading it, I didn't feel that way.

Re SIDS, having the baby sleep in room but not in the bed helps. They also discovered that sleeping on the back instead of front lowered risk by 30%. Suffocation has been found to be a big cause of SIDS. And a baby sucking on a pacifier in sleep is supposed to help, too. (and who really knows if any of this will help but I'm willing to try!)

It's terrifying. I'm so sorry anyone has ever had to go through it.

June24Bride · March 2009

Nykola- My brother died of SIDS too, He was 3 months old.

My mom did all the "right things" too. So i have a hard time believing in these studies reguarding breastfeeding or bumpers or fans.

I believe it's something in the brain that they are born with, and there are great studies that back this up. Just my 2 cents.

jen_and_tom · March 2009

I like research articles like this because I like data. ?But, I believe life has lots of unsolved mysteries and don't really believe that things just happen for no reason. ?This article shows correlation but not causation. ?Neither the article nor my post says that if you don't bf your baby will die of SIDS or that SIDS babies were not bf. ?As parents we weigh risks and benefits for our child's well being on a daily basis. ?For example: not holding your child's hand near busy streets does not mean that they'll get hit by a car but holding their hand may reduce the risk. ?IMO it's silly to think that you love your child less because you don't hold their hand (maybe your arms are full of groceries?) and it's also a little silly to think that maybe they would be a little less likely to be hit by a car if you do hold a hand. ?Or that if you do hold their hand they would never be hit at all. ?All else being equal, hold their hand. ?A few variables thrown into the mix, maybe not...

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