PACIFIERS

PACIFIERS
Babies vary in how much extra sucking they do when they are not feeding. This extra sucking can be a beneficial self-comforting behavior. The pacifier should be introduced within the first month or two of life for it to be accepted as a substitute for the thumb. The main advantage of a pacifier over thumb sucking is thumb sucking can cause a severe overbite if it’s continued after the permanent teeth come in. The pacifier’s use can be controlled, as your child grows older. You can decide when it’s reasonable to discontinue it. By contrast, thumb sucking can’t be stopped when you want it to, because the thumb belongs to your child.

A good age to make the pacifier less available is when your child starts to crawl. A pacifier can interfere with normal babbling and speech development. It’s hard to talk with a pacifier in your mouth.

Preventing excessive use of a pacifier:

Within the 1st 6 months of age
- Give it to your baby whenever he wants to suck, not whenever he cries
- Try to hold/cuddle your child 1st when they are stressed rather than using the pacifier for this

After 6 months of age
- Keep the pacifier in child’s crib to use at naptime or bedtime only. If your child seems to want a security object while awake, offer him alternatives such as stuffed animals or blankets.

Pacifier Safety:
- Don’t put the pacifier on a string around baby’s neck. The string could strangle your baby.
- Use a one-piece commercial pacifier, not a home-made one
- Don’t coat pacifier with any sweets, which may cause dental cavities after teeth have erupted
- Don’t coat pacifier with honey – this may cause a serious disease called botulism in children < 1 yrs of age
- Rinse off the pacifier each time your baby finishes using it or if it drops on the floor

Replace pacifier if it becomes damaged.

The information provided on this website is not a substitute for professional care.
You should consult your own physician or other health care provider for specific advice and treatment,
which advice and treatment will be based upon your individual facts and circumstances.