I have posted before on the inverse relationship between pacifiers and SIDS
before, and cited the refs, so I'm sure these are in the archives.
Essentially, the connection seems to be that there are some infants who have
depressed respiratory affect.  Sucking stimulates an "auxillary" respiratory
control center in the brain that is used during feeding.  Sucking on a thumb
or pacifier may be a compensatory survival behavior the at-risk infant
adopts to protect respiratory status.  In other words, they switch to the
back up control when the main control isn't working well in order to protect
themselves from apnea episodes.  The Japanese ENT lit and some American
pediatric lit. discuss this (again, full refs in archives).  While pacifier
use has risks, it may also have benefits in selected cases.

Barbara Wilson-Clay, BSEd, IBCLC
Austin Lactation Associates, Austin, Texas
http://www.lactnews.com

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