Breastfeeding and SIDS

A German study published in the March issue of Pediatrics found that breastfeeding reduces the risk of sudden infant death syndrome. The study compared 333 infants who died of SIDS with 998 age-matched control infants. At two weeks of age, 83% of the controls were breastfed compared to 50% of the SIDS infants. At one month of age, 72% of the controls were breastfed compared to 40% of the SIDS infants. Exclusive breastfeeding at one month cut the risk of SIDS in half. The study authors’ recommend that public health messages aimed at SIDS risk reduction encourage women to breastfeed through six months of age.