Why are breastfed babies lower risk of SIDS?

Understanding the Link Between Breastfeeding and Reduced SIDS Risk
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS), often referred to as cot death, remains a significant concern for new parents. However, research has consistently shown that breastfeeding can play a crucial role in lowering the risk of SIDS. This protective effect is attributed to several interrelated factors that enhance an infant’s overall health and safety during sleep.
The Protective Benefits of Breastfeeding
Breastfeeding is not just a source of nutrition; it also provides essential antibodies and immune support that help protect infants from infections. Studies indicate that breastfed babies are less susceptible to respiratory infections and gastrointestinal illnesses, both of which have been linked to an increased risk of SIDS. The presence of these infections can lead to complications during sleep, potentially contributing to the risk of sudden death.
Moreover, breastfeeding promotes a closer bond between mother and child, which can enhance the infant’s overall well-being. This closeness is vital, as it encourages responsive parenting behaviors, such as recognizing and addressing the baby’s needs promptly. Such attentiveness can reduce the likelihood of unsafe sleep practices that are associated with SIDS, such as sleeping on the stomach or in hazardous sleep environments.
Duration Matters
Research highlights that the duration of breastfeeding is significant. Infants who are breastfed for at least two months have been shown to have their risk of SIDS halved compared to those who are not breastfed or are weaned earlier. The longer the breastfeeding continues, the greater the protective effect appears to be. This correlation suggests that even partial breastfeeding can provide some level of defense against SIDS, making it a critical recommendation for new parents.
Biological Mechanisms at Play
The biological mechanisms behind this protective effect are still being explored. One theory posits that breastfeeding may help regulate an infant’s sleep patterns and breathing. Breastfed infants tend to have more stable sleep cycles, which could reduce the likelihood of sleep-related deaths. Additionally, the act of breastfeeding itself may promote a more alert state in infants, making them less likely to enter deep sleep phases where the risk of SIDS is heightened.
Conclusion
In summary, the evidence supporting the link between breastfeeding and a reduced risk of SIDS is compelling. By providing essential nutrients, fostering a strong mother-infant bond, and promoting healthier sleep patterns, breastfeeding emerges as a vital practice for safeguarding infants against this tragic phenomenon. As parents navigate the challenges of early parenthood, understanding the benefits of breastfeeding can empower them to make informed choices that enhance their baby’s health and safety.

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 does breast milk reduce SIDS?

Authors said it was unclear why breastfeeding protected infants from SIDS but discussed several possibilities, including better arousal from sleep in breastfed babies. Breast milk also boosts infants’ immune systems and supports their brain development.

What age is SIDS risk?

Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) is the leading cause of death among infants between 1 month and 1 year of age. Even though SIDS can occur any time during a baby’s first year, most SIDS deaths occur in babies between 1 and 4 months of age.

What reduces SIDS the most?

Place babies on their backs to sleep for naps and at night.
Babies who sleep on their backs are at lower risk for SIDS than babies who sleep on their stomachs or sides. If baby usually sleeps on their back, putting them on the stomach or side to sleep, like for a nap, increases the risk for SIDS by up to 45 times.

What is the single most significant factor for SIDS?

• Babies placed to sleep on their stomachs or sides are at higher risk for SIDS.
• Babies who are used to sleeping on their backs but who are placed on their stomachs or sides for sleep, like for a nap, are at very high risk of SIDS.

Why does breastfeeding make cosleeping safer?

“When breastfeeding mothers sleep with their infants, they protect them from potential physiological stressors including airway covering and overheating by their characteristic sleep position (curled around their infants, making a constrained sleep space with their bodies), known as the C-position,” they state.

Why we should not breastfeed while sleeping?

If you fall asleep while feeding baby in your bed, place them on their back in a separate sleep area made for babies as soon as you wake up. Evidence shows that the longer a parent and baby share the same bed, the greater the risk for sleep-related infant deaths.

What happens to your boobs if you don’t breastfeed?

You may have some milk leak from your breasts, and your breasts may feel sore and swollen. This is called engorgement. It usually gets better after several days. Over time, your body will stop making milk if you don’t breastfeed or pump.

Why are formula-fed babies at higher risk of SIDS?

Studies have found that a significantly higher number of formula fed SIDS infants have C. perfringens and its enterotoxin in their faeces compared to breast fed infants. The aim of the study was to compare the effects of human milk and infant formula on binding of C. perfringens to epithelial cells.