Do Pacifiers Reduce the Risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome? A Meta-analysis
Pacifiers reduce the risk of SIDS. An American research team recommends the use of pacifiers during the entire first year of life.
A number of studies indicate that pacifier use reduces the risk of cot death (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome, SIDS). The aim of the study by Fern R. Hauk et al. was to analyze their protective effect and determine whether a recommendation to use pacifiers was appropriate.
Fern R. Hauck‘s team searched the “Medline“ databank for all studies published between 1966-2004 that examined the relationship between SIDS and pacifiers. From a total of 384 abstracts, seven published case-control studies were consulted for a meta-analysis.
By calculating odds ratios, the researchers analyzed how the use of pacifiers affected the risk of SIDS.
A multivariate model showed that pacifier use significantly reduces the likelihood of SIDS (p<.001; odds ratio=0.71). The risk of SIDS was further reduced if pacifier were also used for sleeping (p<.001; odds ratio=0.39).
“Therefore, we recommend that pacifiers be offered to infants as a potential method to reduce the risk of SIDS.“
Pacifiers should be offered for all sleep episodes, both day and night during the entire first year. This is the period during which the risk of SIDS is highest and the baby‘s sucking need is the greatest.
Using a pacifier when placing the baby for sleep is a SIDS preventive measure even though babies usually only keep the pacifier in their mouth for a short time.
Pacifiers should be offered to breastfed babies as soon as breastfeeding has been well established.
The beneficial effects of pacifiers far outweigh any potential negative effects such as malocclusions or otitis media (middle ear infections).