Study suggests dummies reduces risk of cot death

New United States research has confirmed controversial recommendations by the American Academy of Pediatrics that giving a baby a dummy reduces the risk of cot death by more than 90 per cent.

The study by Kaiser Permanente, a large health insurance and management organisation in California, was reported in the latest issue of the British Medical Journal.

Researchers interviewed mothers or carers of 185 victims of cot death, as well as 312 randomly selected controls matched for their race, ethnicity and age.

"After adjusting for known risk factors, use of a dummy during sleep was associated with a 90 per cent reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome (Sids) compared with infants who did not use a dummy", researcher Dr D-Kun Li said.

"The reduced risk was consistent across a wide range of social and economic characteristics and risk factors examined."

The protection seemed to be stronger when an infant was in a sleeping situation believed to be dangerous, such as sleeping face downwards or on the side, sleeping with a mother who smoked, or sleeping on soft bedding.

But these differences were not deemed to be significant.

Dr Li said: "Use of a dummy is associated with a substantial reduction in the risk of Sids (sudden infant death syndrome). 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."

Previous studies have reported that use of a dummy is associated with a reduced risk of Sids, though few have examined the association in detail and in the context of other risk factors.

Dr Li said that dummies usually had a bulky external handle, which could make sure that air reaches the nose or mouth when the baby's face was buried by bedclothes.

And sucking on a dummy might also help to develop the nerves that control the upper airway.

A New Zealand expert on cot deaths, Stephanie Cowan, director of Health Ministry-funded infant death prevention group Education For Change, said earlier this year the research about dummies reducing cot death risk was known.

But the research was not highlighted because of a fear it could distract attention from the key prevention messages of back sleeping and keeping babies smoke-free.

- NZPA