Prevention of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (crib death), or SIDS is an infant’s unexpected and unexplained death where infants often die in their cribs. SIDS is part of a more significant category called SUDI (Sudden Unexpected Death in Infancy). Infants who die suddenly but whose causes of death are later clarified (brain abnormality, cardiac dysfunction, infection, etc.) also fall into this category.
Babies fed on breast milk are at lower probabilities for SIDS than those whose mothers do not breastfed. According to medical research, the longer a mother is exclusively breastfeeding her baby and not supplementing with any formula or solid food, the lower the risk of SIDS. Additionally, breastmilk may protect babies from infections that increase their SIDS risk.
Breastfeeding may also serve as a nighttime parenting method. Mothers tend to sleep with their babies; they often place their babies on their sides facing them. This position will make a breastfeeding mother more aware of changes in her baby, even when they both are sleeping, which also helps decrease the risk of SIDS.
Besides the benefits of breast milk, breastfeeding with an increased ‘touch time’ may also reduce the risk of contracting SIDS.
