I guess I could have mentioned that the mechanisms for HOW breastfeeding
protects against SIDS run the gamut depending on the different reasons for a
SIDS death in the first place.  Let me quote from Fredrickson's "Commentary"
to Breastfeeding: Biocultural Perspectives.  He lists many of the factors
thought to lead to SIDS deaths, then writes:


"It is logical to assume that breastfeeding would assist in preventing some
of these causes, perhaps most of them, but not all.  Especially the risk of
infectious causes (RSV and other viral pneumonias, undetected meningitis and
sepsis) would certainly be reduced as a result of breast milk's active and
passive immune protection.  Likewise the risk of gastroesophageal reflux
would be practically eliminated because breastfed infants experience faster
gut maturation, controlled satiety, and virtually no clinically significant
gastroesophageal reflux.  If we are to believe the mounting data suggesting
that breastfeeding augments neuroproliferation and central nervous system
development (Lawrence, 1994; Rogan and Gladen, 1993), then risk of SIDS due
to immature brain stem, and even carbon dioxide intoxication/hypoexmia would
be reduced by exposure to breastfeeding.  However, the effects of undetected
congenital heart defects and arrythmias would probably not be reduced.  The
exact proportion of all SIDS cases attributable to each of these causes is
not known with absolute certainty.  Preliminary estimates suggest that
infectious disease and immature brain stem (in the form of periodic
breathing or carbon dioxide intoxication/hypoexmia) may cause the major
proportion of SIDS cases.  Thus breastfeeding can be postulated to provide
quite significant protection from SIDS. . . . The discussion of the
biological models and supporting research suggests that breastfeeding may
protect against most SIDS, but not all SIDS."

As pointed out in McKenna and Bernshaw's chapter, breastfeeding and
co-sleeping often go together, and since co-sleeping is probably protective
against SIDS, it is difficult to separate the two protective factors in
terms of which is most important, or if they protect against different
underlying causes of SIDS.

Kathy Dettwyler,
Still Queen of References