A new meta-analysis (study of studies) on the relationship between breastfeeding and SIDS was released this week in Pediatrics.
The authors of the study looked closely at 18 high quality original case-control studies and concluded that "breastfeeding is protective against SIDS." Specifically, they found
The rate of SIDS was 60 percent lower among infants who had any amount of breastfeeding compared to those who were not breastfed.
The rate of SIDS was more than 70 percent lower in infants that been breastfed exclusively for any period of time.
The authors recommend that breastfeeding should be promoted among in SIDS risk-reduction messages.
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