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Parentpedia
Pacifiers
What Experts Say
Some parents swear by pacifiers and buy them even before the baby's born in colors to match their clothes. Others find the idea of plugging a baby's mouth with a piece of rubber or silicone attached to plastic distasteful. Whatever your preconceived ideas about pacifiers, once your baby is born, his needs will lead the way.
If you have a fussy, inconsolable baby, a pacifier might be your lifeline to sanity. If your baby's generally placid, you probably will have no need to use them.
In a 2005 policy statement, the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) does not recommend pacifier use until after breastfeeding has been well established, as it can interfere with successful nursing. A 2002 study of babies age 0 to 4 months old in Brazil found babies given pacifiers had a higher prevalence of switching from breast to bottle feeding. The researchers of that study concluded that pacifier use is not conducive to breastfeeding.
Pros of Pacifier Use
- Pacifiers are very useful for babies who have an almost insatiable need to suck ("non-nutritive sucking") and for some babies they provide deep comfort.
- Pacifiers are convenient and can be used to comfort a hungry baby until food is ready.
- Some babies will fall asleep easily while sucking on a pacifier.
- Some parents would rather a baby use a pacifier than suck his thumb, feeling it is a habit more easily broken.
Cons of Pacifier Use
- Pacifier use inhibits self-soothing techniques, including thumb sucking (a self-generated pacifier that doesn?t get lost).
- When a baby falls asleep with a pacifier and the pacifier falls out, he often become restless and wakes up.
- Pacifiers need to be cleaned and sterilized regularly.
- If it becomes a habit, pacifier use is difficult to discourage in older babies.
Safety Notes
- Never dip pacifiers in honey (a common practice years ago). Babies should not eat honey before age 2 because of the risk of botulism.
- Parents should not attach pacifiers with a cord or ribbon because of the risk of strangulation.
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The contents of ParentPedia are intended for educational purposes only. Such contents are not intended to, and do not, constitute medical or healthcare advice or diagnosis, and may not be used for such purposes. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Reliance on information presented on ParentPedia is at your own risk.
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