Should pacifiers be used for babies?

For many mothers, the pacifier is a magical existence. Just put it into the mouth of a crying baby and the world will instantly become quiet. At the same time, many mothers complain when they mention pacifiers: it is easy to stop using them and difficult to quit, and it affects the development of the baby\’s teeth… Therefore, mothers have always been controversial about whether to use pacifiers for their babies. So, is the pacifier a magical tool for coaxing babies, or is it an existence that is like a trap for babies? 01Why do babies like pacifiers? Sucking is the baby\’s only way of expression other than crying. Parents often see babies sucking nipples but not feeding or sucking their fingers. This is actually the baby perceiving and understanding the world. If you decide to use a pacifier for your child, for the sake of your child\’s health and safety, you should first understand its benefits, risks, precautions and how to quit using a pacifier. 02What are the dangers of pacifiers? Pacifiers will bring benefits, but they will also bring certain disadvantages. Today we will be more realistic and talk about the disadvantages of pacifiers first. ●Children using pacifiers may increase the risk of otitis media. ● Pacifiers may be related to premature discontinuation of breastfeeding, but this is not yet clear. ●Continuous use of pacifiers will affect the development and appearance of the face, oral function, and bite relationship. ●Pacifiers can increase the rate of oral thrush infection in babies. 03 Reasonable use is still good for the baby. In fact, as long as the pacifier is used properly, it is good for the baby. Good Mom\’s Parenting Experience for Parents 0-3 Years Old Ultra-clear pdf▌ Meets the baby\’s non-feeding sucking needs and stabilizes the mood. Using a pacifier can meet the baby\’s sucking needs and reduce baby crying. This is also its most obvious benefit. ▌Reduce infant discomfort. Using a pacifier can divert attention, which can come in handy when receiving vaccinations or going to the hospital for physical examinations. ▌Reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome. Babies who use pacifiers have a lower risk of sudden infant death. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a pacifier before naps and at night as long as it does not interfere with breastfeeding. ▌Relatively easy to quit. When you need to quit, the pacifier can be discarded directly. If the baby is used to sucking fingers, it will be more difficult to quit. As for whether to use it or not, the decision lies with the baby. If the baby is resistant or the pacifier often falls out of the baby\’s mouth, do not force the baby to use it. Remember that the purpose of using a pacifier is to help the baby, not to save parents trouble. We cannot use a pacifier to delay breast milk, nor can we just put a pacifier on when the child cries. 04How to use a pacifier correctly? The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that pacifiers be used according to the child\’s needs before the child is 2 years old, and that pacifiers can be considered to be discontinued after the age of 2. Because of the use of pacifiers over the age of 3, the risk of teeth alignment problems is higher. If you continue to use a pacifier after the age of 5, the impact will be more serious. The longer a pacifier is used, the greater the potential for harm to your child. According to the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics, the following principles can be followed for the correct use of pacifiers: ① Breastfed babies need to wait until they are 1 month old before using them. It is not appropriate to use pacifiers at this time.Can cause nipple confusion. ② Provide a pacifier between feedings. Do not use a pacifier to replace or delay feeding. Make sure the baby uses a pacifier when he is not hungry. ③Using a pacifier for your baby while he sleeps can prevent the occurrence of SIDS. ④Respect the baby\’s personal wishes. If the baby resists using a pacifier, do not force him to use it. ⑤ Clean and replace in time. Choose a pacifier that is the right size, clean it with warm water, and replace it if there are small cracks or other signs of damage. 05How to quit pacifiers “easily and quickly”? 01 Find other alternatives If the baby is still relatively young, you can use other items to replace the pacifier, such as soothing towels, plush toys, etc. 02 Keep the baby busy. Babies’ dependence on pacifiers often occurs when they are bored and insecure. So don\’t leave him idle and always have something to do during his waking hours. 03 A sense of sacred ceremony For a slightly older baby, you can prepare a \”pacifier farewell ceremony\” or a \”pacifier burial ceremony\” for him to make him feel that he has grown up and no longer needs a pacifier. 04 Timely encouragement and praise If the baby performs better one day than the previous day and can go without a pacifier for a longer period of time, parents need to give timely praise and can prepare small gifts to encourage him. 05 Step by step, the baby needs to choose the right time to quit the pacifier. At the beginning, it can be stipulated that the pacifier can only be used at home and cannot be taken outside. After he gets used to it, slowly and eventually let him stop using it when sleeping at night. ★★★Note: The whole family must cooperate and maintain a consistent attitude when quitting pacifiers, otherwise all efforts will be wasted.