Complete Guide To Help Your Baby With Pacifiers

By Pallavi Agarwal | Health & Fitness Writer

Pacifiers are often a baby’s first lovemaking it that much more important for parents to know everything there is to know about these tiny instruments to help the baby and also to make sure that the baby remains safe. In this baby pacifier guide, we will discuss the correct introduction approach, few precautions, and also share some pros & cons to help our beloved parents. Learn all about pacifiers with this guide to help your baby with pacifiers.

Complete Guide To Help Your Baby With Pacifiers

Every parent dreads the time when they see their child feel restless & cry their eyes out. This especially when you have already fed/burped the baby and tried everything else you can think of to comfort the child and make them feel happy & comfortable. Eventually like every other parent, you have to turn to one reliable small device which fits into the palm of your hand and yet carries the power to instantly soothe the child – “The Pacifier”.

Most experts agree that pacifiers are a completely safe and efficient way of soothing the child. Still, pediatric dentists recommend limiting pacifier time once a child is 2 and eliminating it by age 4 to avoid dental issues. In this article, we will discuss in detail some of the common queries asked by every parent and help you navigate through those choppy waters to help you make an informed decision on how to use this device to help your little one.

What is a baby pacifier?

It’s a small device used for babies. Generally, babies feel calm and happy when they are sucking on something. Pacifier provides temporary distraction especially during the time when the baby is going through a procedure be it, blood tests or after shot crying. If your baby is having trouble settling down, a pacifier can help them is falling asleep.

Pacifier Safety Guide –

While purchasing a pacifier, certain precautions & guidelines must be followed by parents to make sure that they are purchasing the best product for the baby –

• Always look and buy one-piece pacifiers. Two-piece pacifiers can cause additional safety risks by breaking apart into smaller pieces which can cause a potential safety hazard.
• Always ensure that the plastic shield should be made of firm plastic with sufficient air holes, and should measure at least 1 inch across so the baby can’t swallow it by mistake.
• Always ensure that the pacifier is dishwasher safe and can be properly cleaned. It is very difficult to prevent pacifiers from falling on the floor or getting dirty so ease of cleanliness is a very important factor to consider while making the purchase.
• Always pay attention to the pacifier size. pacifiers can come in different sizes depending upon the baby’s age. It is important to buy a pacifier suitable for the baby’s age group so that is comfortable in the mouth.
• Regularly inspect pacifier for damage or any sign of discoloration. Replace the pacifier promptly if the rubber has changed color or appears dirty and cannot be cleaned.

Different kinds of pacifiers?

There are many types of pacifier that are available in the market:

One-piece pacifier: these pacifiers are molded from a single piece of plastic and do not have multiple parts attached to them, hence reducing the risk of choking and therefore mostly recommended by pediatricians.

Three-piece pacifier: these pacifiers are built by attaching 3 parts, the nipple, mouth guard, and ring. These three parts are attached together tightly to make the pacifier.

Glow in the dark pacifier: these pacifiers have a glowing mouth guard that is easy to spot in the dark, therefore best for nighttime usage.

Feeder pacifier: The nipple of the pacifier is hollow and perforated. You can place fruit or a thick puree in the hollow, for the baby to eat slowly. These pacifiers are ideal for babies older than 12 months.

Pacifier with a toy: These pacifiers come with a decorative design on them, they might also have a small toy attached with them to keep the baby engrossed. If you planning to explore your option and try a variety to distract your baby, use them.

Are Pacifiers Good for Your baby? Learn Pros & Cons of Pacifier Use –

Babies naturally have a strong sucking reflex which is not always associated with the need to feed. Most babies start sucking on their thumbs & fingers even in the womb itself. The reason often is associated with the soothing and calming effect this sucking motion has on the baby. In order to understand if pacifiers are really ok for your child, please review our detailed pro and con list and decide –

Pros of Pacifier use –

• A pacifier is a really easy way to soothe and calm down a crying baby. babies have a natural sucking reflex which makes pacifiers a perfect combination.
• A pacifier offers temporary distraction and helps calm the child especially during those difficult doctor visits.
• The calming influence of the sucking motion can make it easier to put the baby to bed. However, it is important for parents to make sure that it does not cause any choking risk and pacifier is removed from near the child once they are off to the dream world.
• Pacifier is a wonderful companion while traveling. Not only does it help distract the child, but it can also be very useful during flights or during altitude changes,
• Pacifiers are easily disposable & readily available. In case you forget to carry the pacifier, you can find it virtually in every toy store or big departmental store in the kids/baby’s section.

Cons of Pacifier use –

• Frequent or early start of pacifier use has been shown to interfere with breastfeeding in young babies. The sucking motion used in the pacifier is different than breastfeeding and certain babies can be sensitive to it and shorten the duration of breastfeeding.
• Babies can very quickly get used to pacifiers and can find it difficult to live without them. This is especially true while using a pacifier as a sleep aid where a child can find it difficult to sleep without it (even when they wake up during the night)
• Excessive pacifier use beyond a certain age can influence normal dental growth. While normal pacifier use doe not causes long-term dental problems, prolonged pacifier use can cause a child’s teeth to be misaligned or not come out properly.
• If a child has become dependent on a pacifier for soothing then parents can find it really difficult to help a child leave the habit when the time comes.

Basic Pacifier Usage Guide (Do’s & Dont’s) –

• Ensure that the breastfeeding routine is well established and the baby is completely comfortable with it before gradually introducing pacifiers into the mix. Doctors strongly recommend that For babies who do have trouble learning to breastfeed, the pacifier can teach bad habits that can be difficult to overcome.
• Always keep clean back-ups on hand. Pacifiers are naturally susceptible to getting dirty so always purchase pieces that are easy to clean and have a couple of clean ones on hand for those unforeseen situations.
• Don’t be too generous bringing out the pacifier to the rescue. Babies can become habitual to pacifier very quickly and can find it difficult to live without them. It is important for parents to not go to that as the first line of defense every time a child gets cranky. Instead, try rocking the child or play with them to distract them first.
• Don’t force the pacifier. If your baby does not like the pacifier for some reason then that is perfectly ok and nothing to be worried out. Let the baby set its own pace and if they prefer not using a pacifier for long periods then don’t force it.
• Always use single piece pacifiers which are easier to clean and are in general safe to use (and do not cause a choking hazard)

When & How to start phasing out the Pacifier use –

Pacifier benefits slowly begin to outgrow as the child gets older. Most of the kids tend to leave pacifiers on their own between 2-4 years of age as they see other children. In general, once the child has been potty trained, parents should focus on gradually help the child reduce pacifier time.

It is usually best for parents to prepare for this gradual transition and prepare for those first few days where children might feel especially restless without their pacifier. Follow these tips to start phasing out the pacifier –

• First, gradually reduce the pacifier time while the child is in the familiar surroundings of the home. Try to distract them with other playful activities and get the pacifier out of sight as much as possible
• Start implementing rules like “Pacifier should not leave home”. Try to keep the child engaged when you are outside so they gradually get used to not having it outside.
• Slowly transition to having a pacifier only in the crib. Reinforce that child is turning into a big boy/girl and big kids don’t need pacifiers.
• Be prepared for those initial few nights where the child will need the pacifier. It is best to not cave in because that will reinforce a bad habit and will make it difficult to leave the pacifier.

Our Recommendations

Best pacifier for 0-3 months

Philips Avent Soothie Pacifier

Features: 

• One-piece design; made of medical-grade silicone.
• It is the most popular pacifier found in children’s hospitals across the US. Highly recommended by medical professionals,
• Designed specifically for newborns. Orthodontic design that facilitates healthy oral development.
• Dishwasher-safe and sterilize in water.
• Durable and long-lasting.
• Free of BPA, latex, fragrance, and other harmful chemicals.

Best Pacifier of 3-6 months

The First Years GumDrop Orthodontic Pacifier

Features:

• Nipple designed to comfortably fit in the mouth of an infant aged three to six months.
• Comes in a pack of two.
• Made from latex-free, durable silicone that does not crack or break even after repeated usage.
• Shield guard is designed so that it does not poke the little one’s nose.
• Holes in the nipple shield facilitate airflow to the baby’s nose.
• Free of odor, BPA-free, free from any other harmful chemicals.

Best pacifier for 6-12 months

This is the age when a baby starts to eat food other than breastfeeding. This is the time when you can introduce c=some interesting pacifiers for your babies to pacify them.

Philips Night Time Pacifier

Feature:

• Orthodontic pacifier designed for natural oral development; respects the natural development of baby’s teeth and gums
• Glow in the dark handle makes pacifier easy to find at night when the baby is sleeping
• Silicone nipple won’t become misshapen or discolored over time
• BPA free
• Dishwasher safe and can be sterilized; comes with a snap-on hygienic cap to keep the nipple clean
• Orthodontic symmetrical collapsible nipple so right side up or upside down, Philips Avent pacifiers help ensure natural development of teeth and gums
• Taste and odor-free silicone nipple makes for an easy transition between pacifier, breast, and bottle
• Includes two pacifiers, ideal age range: 6-18 months

Everyone seems to have their own opinions about pacifiers but do you really know how much of is true or just a complete myth? Here is our research which will help set the record straight.

1) Breastfeeding Newborns Should Never Use a Pacifier

False. A pacifier is a really easy way to soothe and calm down a crying baby. Babies have a natural sucking reflex which makes pacifiers a perfect combination. The important thing to understand is that frequent or early start of pacifier use has been shown to interfere with breastfeeding in young babies. The sucking motion used in the pacifier is different than breastfeeding and certain babies can be sensitive to it and shorten the duration of breastfeeding. Therefore, it is recommended for new mothers to first settle into a constant nursing pattern (about 3-4 weeks) and then safely start using the pacifier.

2) Pacifiers Typically Cause Dental Problems

Partially True. Excessive pacifier use beyond a certain age can influence normal dental growth. While normal pacifier use doe not causes long-term dental problems, prolonged pacifier use can cause a child’s teeth to be misaligned or not come out properly. It is important to note that for most babies, pacifier use in the first 2 years has almost no impact. Therefore, in order to avoid any damage or malocclusion (incorrect tooth alignment), parents should gradually remove the pacifier around 2-3 years of age.

3) Extensive Pacifier Use May Increase the Risk of Ear Infections

True. Some researches have indicated that older children (1 year or more) tend to have greater ear infections while continuing to use pacifiers. While additional researches are still being carried out on the mechanism surrounding this observation, popular opinion is that it is most likely because sucking changes the pressure in the ears. This pressure difference may prevent fluid from draining through the tube that connects the middle ear to the back of the nose and throat. When fluid collects there, it can lead to an increased risk of infections.

In general, a good guideline for parents can be to don’t be too generous bringing out the pacifier to the rescue. Babies can become habitual of pacifier very quickly and can find it challenging to live without them. It is important for parents to not go to that as the first line of defense every time a child gets cranky. Instead, try rocking the child or play with them to distract them first.

4) Pacifier Needs to be Frequently Cleaned

True. Pacifiers can get dirtier than you can imagine. They can be breeding grounds for various bacteria and viruses and need to be constantly cleaned. In general, it is a good practice to always keep clean back-ups on hand. Pacifiers are naturally susceptible to getting dirty so always purchase pieces that are easy to clean and have a couple of clean ones on hand for those unforeseen situations.

It is always a good idea to ensure that the pacifier is dishwasher safe and can be properly cleaned. It is very difficult to prevent pacifiers from falling on the floor or getting dirty so ease of cleanliness is a very important factor to consider while making the purchase.

5) Pacifiers Can Reduce the Risk of SIDS

True. A recent study has indicated that pacifier use can significantly reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) in kids. In addition to promoting sleeping on the back which itself has been shown to dramatically reduce SIDS, pacifier use can help to keep the airways open and keep the baby safe. However, having said that, please don’t force the baby to use a pacifier while they are about to sleep or jam it in if it falls out in the night.

Closing Note: A baby pacifier is a tool, not a toy, the primary purpose of a pacifier is to soothe and calm the infant. Check it periodically for damage and replace it after every 2 months. Check the expiry date before buying. Do not dip the pacifier in any kind of liquid, sugar syrup, or honey. Note that the bottle nipple is not a pacifier as they are made of different materials and for a different purpose. lastly, do not tie the pacifier around the baby’s neck and always clean the pacifier before use to prevent transmission of germ.

We would love to hear back from you. Please share your views in the comment section and feel free to ask any questions. Cheers!