New Research on Dummies

Dummies (pacifiers) reduce sudden infant deaths

ForParentsbyParents were asked to help the BBC with the new research on the use of dummies. We asked Sarah Edwards, a registered member from ForParentsbyParents, and her daughter Abigail, from Stoke Mandeville, to appear on BBC Breakfast News, today 9th December 2005 and also broadcast on Radio 5 Live. The BBC wanted to get the views from real parents on this research and how they felt about the use of dummies

This new research indicates that dummies can prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) by up to 90%

Our Editor, Debbie appeared with Sarah, and they were interviewed by Paul Welsh, appearing 3 times during the morning show

"Our experience from submissions to the site, is a balance between for and against the use of dummies. I think that it is important that parents are kept well informed about products that may be available to them to assist in the care of their baby and child. Research has a big impact on parenting views, and we are pleased that so many parents find our site a valuable source of advice, from other real parents, facing the same issues as themselves." Debbie, Editor

An extract of the research is summarised here for you, but the link to the full British Medical Journal is also below.

Use of a dummy during sleep and risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS): population based case-control study BMJ Online First

Use of a dummy seems to reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), finds a study published online by the BMJ today.

Researchers in California interviewed mothers or carers of 185 infants who died and 312 randomly selected controls matched for race/ethnicity and age. They obtained information on dummy use during the index sleep (defined as the last sleep or the sleep during the night before the interview), on other environmental factors related to sleep, and on risk factors for SIDS. After adjusting for known risk factors, use of a dummy during sleep was associated with a 90% reduced risk of SIDS compared with infants who did not use a dummy.

The reduced risk was consistent across a wide range of social and economic characteristics and risk factors examined. The reduced risk also seemed to be stronger when an infant was in an adverse sleep environment (such as sleeping prone or on the side, sleeping with a mother who smoked, or sleeping on soft bedding), although these differences did not reach significance.

“Use of a dummy is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of SIDS,” say the authors. “Our results also provide some evidence that use of a dummy may reduce the impact of other risk factors for SIDS, especially those related to adverse sleep conditions.”

Contact:
Dr De-Kun Li, Senior Research Scientist, Division of Research, Kaiser Permanente Northern California, Oakland CA, USA
Tel: +1 510 891 3755
Email: dkl@dor.kaiser.org

Click here to view full paper: British Medical Journal - Dummies

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