How does breastfeeding promote safe sleep?

The Connection Between Breastfeeding and Safe Sleep
Breastfeeding is not only a vital source of nutrition for infants but also plays a significant role in promoting safe sleep practices for both mothers and their babies. The relationship between breastfeeding and sleep is multifaceted, involving physiological, emotional, and practical dimensions that contribute to a safer sleep environment.
Physiological Benefits of Breastfeeding
One of the key physiological benefits of breastfeeding is the release of hormones that facilitate sleep. When a mother breastfeeds, her body produces oxytocin, often referred to as the “love hormone.” This hormone not only fosters a deep emotional bond between mother and child but also helps to soothe anxieties, creating a calming atmosphere conducive to sleep. Additionally, breastfeeding stimulates the release of prolactin, a hormone that promotes sleepiness in mothers. This means that after a feeding session, mothers often find it easier to drift off to sleep, which can be particularly beneficial during those exhausting early months of parenthood.
Creating a Safe Sleep Environment
Breastfeeding also encourages practices that enhance safe sleep. For instance, breastfeeding mothers are more likely to follow guidelines that promote safe sleep environments, such as placing their babies on their backs to sleep, which significantly reduces the risk of Sudden Unexpected Infant Death (SUID). The act of breastfeeding can also lead to more frequent, shorter sleep cycles for infants, which aligns with safe sleep recommendations. As babies wake more often for feeds, they are less likely to remain in potentially dangerous sleep positions for extended periods.
Emotional and Practical Aspects
The emotional connection fostered through breastfeeding can lead to more attentive parenting practices. Mothers who breastfeed often develop a heightened awareness of their baby’s needs, including sleep cues. This attentiveness can translate into better sleep practices, as mothers are more likely to respond promptly to their baby’s needs, ensuring that the infant is comfortable and safe during sleep.
Moreover, breastfeeding can facilitate co-sleeping arrangements that are safe. While bed-sharing is often discouraged due to safety concerns, breastfeeding mothers who choose to co-sleep can do so in a manner that minimizes risks. For example, they can ensure that the sleep surface is firm and free of soft bedding, which is crucial for reducing the risk of suffocation.
Conclusion
In summary, breastfeeding promotes safe sleep through a combination of hormonal benefits, emotional bonding, and practical parenting strategies. The physiological effects of breastfeeding help mothers achieve better sleep, while the nurturing aspect fosters a safer sleep environment for infants. As such, breastfeeding is not just about nutrition; it is a holistic practice that supports the overall well-being of both mother and child during those critical early months.

Does breastfeeding help with sleep deprivation?

In a US study, exclusively breastfeeding women averaged 30 min more nocturnal sleep than women who used formula at night, but measures of sleep fragmentation did not differ [25]. Lactation hormones such as prolactin help mothers adapt to the stresses of caring for an infant, including broken sleep [13, 26, 27].

Why does breastfeeding help prevent SIDS?

Antibodies transferred from mom to baby during breastfeeding protect babies from infections such as gastrointestinal or febrile illnesses that put them at increased risk for SIDS. Brain development. Breast milk provides nutrients that promote brain health and make babies less vulnerable to SIDS.

How to safely co-sleep while breastfeeding?

However, it has been found that when a breastfeeding mum co-sleeps, she usually lies in a position that helps her keep close physical contact and care of her baby. She usually forms a protective “C” shape around her baby. She keeps her baby at the level of her breast with an arm between her baby’s head and the pillow.

How does breastfeeding help baby sleep?

When you breastfeed, a hormone called cholecystokinin (CCK) is released in your baby as they feed. This makes your baby sleepy which is why they often drift off during a feed. The levels of CCK rise to a peak at the end of a feed, then drop, then peak again 30 to 60 mins later.

How do nurses promote sleep?

Some basic strategies for ensuring a good night’s sleep can include: turning off all technology at least 1 hour before bed including mobile phones and television. create a comfortable room and bed to sleep in, dark and quiet rooms promote sleep. avoiding caffeine 4-6 hours before going to sleep.

Why is SIDS higher at 2 months?

Why Does SIDS Peak at 2-4 Months? The widely accepted explanation for the SIDS peak has to do with the timeline of brain development. “Up to 4 months old, the part of the brain that controls breathing and wakefulness is under a lot of development,” Juliet explains.

How does breastfeeding reduce infant mortality?

Yet, despite these barriers, if breastfeeding was increased to universal measures, 823,000 children’s lives would be saved each year in high mortality rate LMICS (11) because breastfeeding can reduce death due to diarrhea (16), respiratory infections (16), and infectious diseases (17), to name a few (11).

Why is breastfeeding part of safe sleep?

Breastfeed Your Baby to Reduce the Risk of SIDS
Feeding your baby human milk, as by direct breastfeeding, offers many benefits for moms and babies, including reducing baby’s risk of SIDS. * The Consumer Product Safety Commission has more information on crib safety at https://www.cpsc.gov/SafeSleep.

Why is nursing to sleep good?

Nursing to sleep is a great way to help soothe your baby and keep them in a solid night time routine. The longer stretches will happen naturally on your LO’s own timeline, and even then it will change with regressions/teethings/growth spurts (but that’s the same for all babies in all sleep situations).

At what age is cosleeping safe?

1 year old
Co-sleeping with a child over 1 year old has a little less risk than with one under 12 months. At a toddler’s age of 1 to 2 years old, they can roll over and free themselves in case they are trapped in the bed. As a child gets older, it becomes less risky to co-sleep, but it’s still best for them to sleep on their own.