Pacifiers have no effect on breastfeeding

We’ve openly supported breastfeeding as the premiere choice for feeding infants for quite some time. The noted benefits (SIDS risk reduction being one of them) would lead one to believe that the majority of mothers would at least attempt the procedure but despite all of the available information, there are a number of reasons why many mothers are still choosing alternatives. One of these reasons is the fear that the use of a pacifier (another proven SIDS risk-reducer) may interfere with the child’s feeding behavior in conjunction with a breastfeeding regimen. Not wanting to give up the pacifier, mothers often choose against breastfeeding to avoid the rumored feeding complications. We’re happy to report that a recent article in the Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine demonstrates that this fear is unsubstantiated.

According to the abstract, a total of 1098 reports dating from January 1950 through August 2006 were compiled to investigate the pacifier-breastfeeding relationship. The evidence suggests that there is no negative correlation between the two and furthermore, that any studies showcasing the contrary were likely the result of other “complex factors, such as breastfeeding difficulties”. The report concedes a necessity for ongoing research to better understand the relationship but as it stands right now, previous concerns appear to have been laid to rest.

Abstract @ The Archives of Pediatric & Adolescent Medicine

96,000 cribs recalled from Babies R’ Us

Jardine has suffered yet another setback in their crib manufacturing practices as 96,000 cribs spanning 7 different models were recently recalled by the Consumer Product Saftey Commission. Nationwide sales of the poorly constructed units were championed by popular stores such as Babies R’ Us, Toys R’ Us, Kids World, and Geoffrey Stores. According to the report, there were at least 10 incidents of children breaking “slats” while inside the crib, placing them at tremendous risk for entrapment and strangulation. Altogether, 31 cases were cited.

This recall was the latest in a series of recalls for Jardine cribs (dating back to June, 2008) bringing the grand total to around 475,000. Needless to say, the name Jardine should be ringing loud by now and if it sounds even remotely familiar, check your model numbers against those printed on the official release @ cspc.gov. If you’re unsure about your crib model, we’d suggest playing it safe and finding an alternative until you’re absolutely positive you don’t have a defective model. You may contact Jardine at (800) 646-4106 from 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Central Monday through Friday.

See the official release @ cpsc.gov

Attachment Parenting: Sorry to Offend

The Consumer Reports Safety Blog that we referenced in our latest post has generated quite a bit of attention from the reading public. As of today, Five products not to buy for your baby is sitting under a pile of 133 comments, many of which contain some unanticipated backlash from offended parents all throughout the country. Apparently, the main problem with Consumer Reports’ latest advice is that it directly conflicts with the views and recommendations of Attachment Parenting advocates (a group that emphasizes “round-the-clock” closeness to infants). While we won’t get into detail over the exact statements that were posted in the comments (though feel free to explore this issue yourself by clicking the link at the bottom of the post) what we will say is this: infant safety is and always has been our top concern. We want everyone to have intimate, nurturing relationships with their children and we know there are a number of ways to achieve that. However, if there is sufficient research or data that lead to recommending a certain product, method, or lifestyle change over another, we won’t be afraid to make that recommendation. We hope that we haven’t offended anyone out there yet but if you ever feel uneasy about something you read here on the blog, our homepage, or elsewhere, why not drop us a question? We’re always here to answer them.

Consumer Reports vs Attachment Parenting @ New York Times

Not recalled, not safe either

Purchasing baby products can be kind of confusing. With safety as a top concern, we all generally rely on standards and government recalls to keep our homes risk-free. Unfortunately, just because a product is on the shelf with no mention of a recall, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s safe (or that you should buy it). Highlighting a few items that fall in the “better left alone” category is an article from the Consumer Reports Safety Blog and we thought we’d share their recommendations. The following items should be avoided whenever possible.

• Bedside/Co-Sleeping Devices - Having your baby sleep with you in your bed may seem like a good idea but the fact is, you place your child at an enormous risk for suffocation/strangulation by doing so. There are products out there that claim to reduce these risks by providing barriers between you and your child but as Consumer Reports notes, these items are largely unregulated by safety standards and multiple deaths have been reported. Even if these items were regulated, we still think they’re bad news to begin with. Your baby should be sleeping in a crib. End of story.

Face Up To Wake Up

The prone sleeping position, (the position observed by placing your infant to sleep on his/her tummy) has been publicly advised against by the SIDS community for over fourteen years. Through international alliances, word-of-mouth, and aggressive public campaigning (most popularly the Back To Sleep campaign), awareness has risen and we’ve seen a sizable reduction in SIDS cases as a result. Today, we rather predictably announce that our stance on prone sleeping hasn’t changed, and a recent article published in Pediatric Journal explains why. The article (citing research investigating sleeping patterns in infants) states that research has demonstrated yet again, that infants placed to sleep on their stomachs are at a greater risk for SIDS than those placed to sleep on their backs. Furthermore, the findings identified other popularized risk factors as sleeping on duvets, sleeping outside of the parents’ household, and sleeping outside of the parents’ immediate proximity.

The findings of this article really aren’t much of a surprise in terms of identifying risk factors for SIDS but they’re significant in that they confirm much of what we already know. We can’t stress enough the importance of preparing the safest sleeping environment possible for your baby and sleep positioning, parental proximity, and bed cushioning are all integral considerations in preparing that environment. Please take the results of this and past studies as evidence and take the steps to keep your family safe.

If you only remember one thing from this post, “Face Up To Wake Up” seems the most appropriate. Oh, and Happy Earth Day!

Pediatric Journal Abstract