There are many different opinions about giving a pacifier to your baby. However, the decision to use a pacifier or not is completely up to you as most babies have a strong sucking reflex. Some babies even suck their thumbs or fingers before they are born. Understand the pros and cons and safety tips before giving a pacifier to your baby.
Pros of pacifiers
- Pacifiers lower the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). There is a theory about how sucking on a pacifier might help open up air space around a baby's mouth and nose which ensures the baby gets enough oxygen.
- Pacifiers may help babies learn to self-soothe, including at naptime and bedtime. They can help your baby fall asleep faster and learn how to get to sleep on their own.
- Pacifiers offer temporary distractions. A pacifier might come in handy to soothe your baby if their ears start popping on a flight or if they are about to get a jab at the doctor. Many parents depend on a pacifier to do the trick!
- The pacifier is in your control. Unlike the thumb — which is in your baby's control — you can decide when it is time for your baby to give up sucking on the binky, though your baby might put up a fight. The good news is research has shown that thumb-sucking can be a harder habit to break.
Cons of pacifiers
- Your baby might get attached to the pacifier. It can be a tough habit to break, especially once your little one turns into a more strong-minded toddler.
- It can be a bad habit for parents too. If you chuck the pacifier in at the first sign of a cry, you might overlook the real reasons for your baby's tears — a tummy ache, a soiled diaper, or other reasons.
- The use of pacifiers might increase the risk of ear infections. However, this is not the case before 6 months, when the risk of ear infections is at its lowest.
- Prolonged use of a pacifier might cause dental problems. Generally, normal pacifier use during the first few years of life does not cause long-term dental problems. But, prolonged pacifier use might cause a child's teeth to be misaligned.
Pacifiers safety tips
Here are a few safety tips to note about your baby's pacifier.
- Give your baby a pacifier when you put them in the cot, but do not reinsert it once asleep.
- Never attach a pacifier to the cot, carrier, playpen, or stroller, or hang it around your baby's neck or wrist with a ribbon, string, or cord that's longer than six inches. Your baby can be strangled that way. Clips and shorter tethers designed for pacifiers are fine to use when your baby is awake, but never during sleeping.
- Clean the pacifier often, and at a minimum daily, with soap and hot water, rinsing thoroughly. Replace regularly.
- Never dip the pacifier in a sugary substance as it is bad for your baby's gums and developing teeth.
- Ensure your little one is not hungry before offering a pacifier. It should not be used to delay or replace a meal.
- Never use a bottle teat as a pacifier. It is possible for the nipple to detach from the ring, which could serve as a choking hazard.
When should you introduce a pacifier to your baby?
It is best to ensure that your baby has gotten the hang of breastfeeding (by around 3 to 4 weeks old) before you give a pacifier to your baby. That's only because the sucking mechanism for breastfeeding is different from the one used for sucking on a binky. However, don't overuse your baby's pacifier, especially if binky time is cutting down on feeding or socializing time. And, more importantly, try not to use the pacifier as a replacement for attention or other kinds of parent-provided comfort!
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