Infant health - are pacifiers good for your baby?
Anyone with an infant can relate to this. Especially with a fussy, cholic baby that just doesn’t want to be soothed by your constant rocking, soft sing-song voice - the pacifier can be like a “sanity-saving” device. One pop and the baby even cooes angelically!
However, I’ve encountered many a parent who tells me that I shouldn’t give my baby a pacifier for reasons such as below. What’s the real deal? Are pacifiers good for our babies? Here’s the lowdown according to a Mayo Clinic article -
The Pros.
- A pacifier may soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they’re sucking on something.
- A pacifier offers temporary distraction. When your baby’s hungry, a pacifier may buy you a few minutes to find a comfortable spot to nurse or to prepare a bottle. A pacifier also may come in handy during shots, blood tests or other procedures.
- A pacifier may help your baby go to sleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.
- Pacifiers may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Researchers have found an association between pacifier use during sleep and a reduced risk of SIDS.
- Pacifiers are disposable. When it’s time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your baby prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it may be more difficult to break the habit.
The cons.
- Early pacifier use may interfere with breast-feeding. Sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier or bottle. Some babies have trouble learning how to nurse properly if they’re given a pacifier too soon.
- Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you may face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth.
- Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections. However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest from birth to age 6 months — when the risk of SIDS is the highest and your baby may be most interested in a pacifier.
- Prolonged pacifier use may lead to dental problems. Normal pacifier use during the first few years of life doesn’t cause long-term dental problems. If your child continues to use a pacifier persistently, however, his or her top front teeth may slant out or the upper and lower jaws may be misaligned.
Some do’s and don’t for using a pacifier -
- Wait until breast-feeding is well established. Be patient. It may take a few weeks or more to settle into a regular nursing routine. If you’re breast-feeding, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to introduce a pacifier until your baby is 1 month old.
- Choose the one-piece, dishwasher-safe variety and buy extras. Pacifiers made of two pieces pose a choking hazard if they break. The shape and firmness is up to you — or your baby.
- Keep it clean. Before you use a new pacifier, wash it with soap and water. To keep fungus at bay, soak your baby’s pacifier in equal parts white vinegar and water for a few minutes a day. Allow the pacifier to air dry thoroughly before returning it to your baby. Resist the temptation to “rinse” the pacifier in your own mouth. You’ll only spread more germs to your baby.
- Try other ways to calm your baby. Don’t use a pacifier as a first line of defense. Sometimes a change of position or a rocking session may be all that’s needed. If your baby is hungry, offer the breast or a bottle.
- Know when to pull the plug. Most kids stop using pacifiers on their own between ages 2 and 4. If you’re concerned about your child’s pacifier use, consult his or her doctor for suggestions.
Tags: infant health, pacifiers, pros, cons, fussy, baby, soothe
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POSTED IN: Family and Home, Infant Care, Safety and Health
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