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Subject:
From:
Denny Rice <[log in to unmask]>
Reply To:
Lactation Information and Discussion <[log in to unmask]>
Date:
Tue, 24 Feb 2004 16:16:12 -0500
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Breast-Fed Infants Are Easily Aroused From Active Sleep at 2 to 3 Months of
Age



NEW YORK (Reuters Health) Feb 16 - Breast-fed infants are more easily
aroused from active sleep at 2 to 3 months of age than those who are
formula-fed, according to a new study. The findings could have implications
for the prevention of SIDS, say the authors.

"Arousal from sleep is believed to be an important survival mechanism that
may be impaired in victims of SIDS," Dr. R. S. C. Horne and colleagues from
Monash University, Victoria, Australia, note. "Previously it has been shown
that arousability is impaired by the major risk factors for SIDS such as
prone sleeping and maternal smoking."

In a study published in the January issue of the Archives of Diseases in
Childhood, the researchers examined whether arousability was altered by the
method of feeding, and whether infants who are breast-fed have lower
arousal thresholds. The team used polysmonography to study 43 healthy term
infants at 2 to 4 weeks post-term, 2 to 3 months post-term, and 5 to 6
months post-term.

While infants slept supine, nasal air jet stimulation was applied to induce
arousal in both active sleep (AS) and quiet sleep (QS). The team calculated
multiple measurements of arousal threshold across each sleep state. They
compared arousal thresholds and sleep period lengths between formula-fed
and breast-fed infants at each age.

No differences in arousal thresholds were observed between breast-fed and
formula-fed infants in QS. However, breast-fed infants were significantly
more arousable than formula-fed infants in AS at 2 to 3 months of age (p <
0.01).

The investigators found no significant differences in arousability between
males and females in either sleep state at any age studied. When sleep
period length was compared, there were no differences found between breast-
fed and formula-fed infants. "However, at 5 to 6 months of age, breast-fed
infants had significantly longer sleep cycles (p < 0.01)," Dr. Horne and
colleagues write.

"This study supports breast feeding of infants during the critical risk
period for SIDS (2-4 months) as reduced arousal, particularly in AS, could
impair the ability of an infant to respond appropriately to a life
threatening situation," they conclude.

Arch Dis Child 2004;89:22-25.

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