We’ve all seen babies happily sucking away on pacifiers, but the fact that they seem to be everywhere doesn’t mean they’re a required piece of baby gear. Instead, try to think of the pacifier like a soothing cup of tea: there are people who can’t manage to doze off without their nightly dose of mint medley, but others get by just fine without it, or don’t even want it. In the same way, Baby might turn their nose up at a new pacifier or grab it while yelling (in baby-language) “Where have you been all my life?”
Why are babies divided on pacifiers?
A pacifier is designed to comfort a fussy baby in between breastfeeding, especially if the baby can’t quite seem to get enough sucking-time during those nursing sessions. While this isn’t a problem for the majority of babies, it’s still common enough to have kept the pacifier market evolving for centuries. In fact, the original pacifier, invented in England during the 19th Century, was a literal ear of corn!
Are there additional pacifier perks?
The benefits of the pacifier go beyond suckling substitution. Several medical studies have suggested that giving your baby a pacifier while they sleep can lower the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The pacifier can also prevent Baby from developing a tough-to-crack thumb sucking habit, because when they outgrow their pacifier, you can just throw it away. It’s a little bit harder to give them a time-out from using part of their hand. Pacifiers can also be helpful for soothing babies in stressful situations, like when they&;s getting vaccines or other procedures. They can also be a good tool for adjusting inner ear pressure when flying as the altitude changes.
What are the dangers of pacifier use?
Pacifiers present relatively few risks to babies. Some research has pointed to a link between pacifier use and middle ear infections, but since these infections rarely affect younger babies, a simple measure of defense is curtailing Baby’s pacifier use by their half-birthday. Pacifiers may also affect Baby’s oral health (especially prolonged use), and cause misalignment of their teeth and jaw. And contrary to some old beliefs, it is a bad idea to dip a pacifier in sugar water, particularly once Baby has teeth, as this could lead to tooth decay. Your doctor may suggest allowing Baby to get the hang of breastfeeding before trying a pacifier, since sucking on a pacifier is a slightly different physical action than suckling on a breast. In order for the placebo to work, Baby will have to feel familiar with the real thing.
Pacifiers should be kept clean to reduce the spread of germs, and one-piece pacifiers, instead of pacifier that can be broken into two pieces for cleaning or storage, are considered to be safer, since they do not present a risk of choking.
Sources
- Mayo Clinic Staff. “Pacifiers: Are they good for your baby?” Mayo Clinic. Mayo Clinic, July 22 2017. Retrieved October 25 2017. https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/infant-and-toddler-health/in-depth/pacifiers/art-20048140.
- Sara Walters. “Will Using a Pacifier Affect My Breastfed Baby?” New Beginnings. 24(6): 279. November-December 2007. Retrieved October 25 2017. http://www.lalecheleague.org/nb/nbnovdec07p279.html.
- “Pacifiers: Satisfying Your Baby’s Needs.” HealthyChildren. American Academy of Pediatrics, November 21 2015. Retrieved October 25 2017. https://www.healthychildren.org/English/ages-stages/baby/crying-colic/Pages/Pacifiers-Satisfying-Your-Babys-Needs.aspx.
