I too have read that in countries where vaccination is delayed, breastfeeding occurs for at least the first 12 months and cosleeping is "usual" that the sids rate is less (some Scandanavian countries and Asian countries). I am not sure it's a study as such but rather a comparison... I am not sure where that info can be accessed though...

Someone asked why the breastfeeding link. Well I can't answer that definitively but I do know that we don't really know all there is in that wonderful breastmilk. There are enzymes and qualities we don't even have names for. There is also the hormonal response between infant and Mama that occurs when we breastfeed. Also, breastfed babies have a heightened "mother response". Meaning that if you let down in the night your baby will wake smelling the milk (if she is in the same room of course) - this is thought to somehow protect against SIDS...

All of these things are thoughts, ideas I am not certain if they have been proven but rather an explaination why babies in certain situations are less likely to be claimed by Sids... Now, of course babies still die of SIDS in the most optimal of conditions... Is it a gene that is defective? Is it environmental? Is it an allergy? Who knows...

What we do know is that it's an absolute tragedy that nobody is to blame for...

One way of reducing the flat head is to ensure babies have tummy time whilst they are awake. This is really really important for their development - cognitive and physical and of course decreases that flat head thing as they spend less time on their backs. I wear my babies also so I guess this decreases the flat head thingy too. I have never had flat head issues but I do know babies that did...

Two of my babies wouldnt' settle unless they were on their tummies - I used to settle them on their tummies and then turn them onto their backs... When they were old enough to roll they would roll onto their bellies all the time... They still sleep on their bellies!