I’d like to share a few possible ways breastfeeding can prevent SIDS. Many of us have been affected or know someone who has been affected by SIDS. It’s a very scary and sad thing, but I’m here to let you know of a few reasons and possible ways breastfeeding can prevent SIDS! Breastfeeding is good for mom and baby both. Please read my list below to see why you should consider breastfeeding!
One of the possible ways breastfeeding can prevent SIDS is by reducing reflux! Reflux isn’t fun for mom or baby. Babies who have reflux can spit up a lot, and choke on their spit. Laying a baby on their back to sleep has been proven the safest method for avoiding SIDS. If your baby has reflux, this might be a concern to you! Breastfeeding your baby will reduce his chance of reflux and SIDS both.
Breast milk reduces respiratory infections that can clog up baby’s tiny airway passages. When a baby drinks formula or other milk that isn’t breast milk, the allergens in that milk can cause air passages to swell, making it hard for baby to breathe. And if baby were to accidently take a bit of breast milk into the wrong pipe and into his lung, it wouldn’t irritate nearly as much as formula would!
We all know that breastfeeding boosts baby’s immune system, so it’s not news to hear that breast milk can fight infections! One of the biggest contributing factors to the SIDS risk is respiratory and gastrointestinal infections. Breast milk helps cut back on these two risks as well as fighting against RSV infection which inflames the lungs making it hard for a baby to breathe properly.
While babies are breastfeeding, they use all the muscles in the jaw, throat and neck. Learning to swallow and breathe in coordination is an excellent tool for strengthening those muscles, which help keep the airways open. Bottle-fed babies use these muscles too, but not as much as breastfed babies. This is another reason why breastfeeding can prevent SIDS!
Breastfed babies have a higher I.Q. than most bottle-fed babies. This isn’t always the case, but largely so. Breast milk is power food for babies’ brains! It helps babies grow mentally and physically. The healthier a baby is, the lower her risk for SIDS drops.
Mothers who breastfeed their babies might have a sense of awareness. Breastfeeding can increase maternal instincts and offer more of sensitivity to mom so she knows when something isn’t right.
According to the Mayo Clinic, breastfeeding at all, but
especially exclusively for the first six months, can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS but please note there is no scientific evidence linking SIDS and breastfeeding. There is no reason for moms who didn't breastfeed and lost their darling to SIDS to imagine that if they had breastfed, baby would still be with us. The causes of SIDS are unknown and the link between SIDS and breastfeeding is still the subject of scientific research. However, breastfeeding is the ultimate bonding experience for mom and baby. Skin-on-skin contact is ideal while breastfeeding! A healthy relationship fosters security, trust, and above all, good health for you and your little one!
Have you heard the saying “breast is best”? It’s true; breastfeeding is the best gift you can give your baby! If your baby is bottle fed, that doesn’t mean your baby isn’t healthy. Not all mothers can breastfeed! But if you can, then go for it! Your baby and your body will benefit from breastfeeding. Have you considered breastfeeding your baby?