Pacifiers: Pros and Cons

Should they use a pacifier or not? Here's everything you need to know about using pacifiers.

As a mother, you will be faced with many decisions when it comes to your child and their well-being. You will certainly do your best to make the right ones. Sometimes you will be successful and other times you will not.

One of the most debated topics is pacifiers. Whether to allow your child to wear one and, if so, for how long. Below we discuss some pros and cons in an unbiased manner that can hopefully help you decide what works best for you and your child. It is important to remember that YOU are the one who knows your child best; You are the one who has to make these decisions and you must follow your instincts.

Pros and Cons of pacifiers

Pros:

1. Pain relieving . For some babies, pacifiers can offer satisfaction between feedings or when they need comfort.
2. Temporary distraction . If you need another minute to prepare something, take a quick phone call, or comfort your child while they receive their shots, etc., pacifiers can be a good distraction.
3. Travel help . Pacifiers are a solution to help relieve the discomfort associated with the build-up and release of pressure in your child's ears during flights.
4. Sleep aid . Some babies fall asleep easier with a pacifier. It can help calm them or put them back to sleep in the middle of the night if they wake up.
5. Easier to remove. Pacifiers can be removed when other habits, such as thumb sucking, may be more difficult to remove.
6. Prevention of SUDDEN DEATH . According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, a pacifier may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome if sucked during naptime and bedtime.

Cons:

1. Interference with lactation . If introduced too early, a pacifier can prevent your baby from sucking effectively while breastfeeding, which in turn can affect your breast milk supply. Pediatricians recommend that you first get used to breastfeeding before introducing a pacifier, usually between 4 and 6 weeks.
2. Dependency . If your child loses his pacifier while sleeping, he may constantly wake up every time it falls out of his mouth.
3. Dental problems . According to many dental professionals, prolonged pacifier use or thumb sucking (after the first few years) can be a problem for mouth growth or tooth alignment.
4. Speech problems . If your child continues to use a pacifier as he develops some language and constantly has a pacifier in his mouth throughout the day, he may not have the same practice speaking or announcing as he should at that age.
5. Health problems. Using a pacifier can increase the incidence of ear infections; However, ear infection rates are lowest during the first six months, when a child may need a pacifier the most and the risk of SIDS is highest.
6. Unsafe materials. Not all pacifiers are the same. And you don't want your little one sucking and chewing on materials that could leach potentially hazardous chemicals and materials. If you decide to use a pacifier, opt for 100% natural rubber latex that is free of PVC, BPA, phthalates, and artificial colors.

The concept of pacifiers has been around for a long, long time; And, pacifier use is something that is not going away anytime soon. Being a toddler is hard work, so if a pacifier can help your child feel better about using it. If your child is not interested, great, there is no need to force it, there are other recommendations to reduce the risk of SIDS. You must decide what is best for your child. If you use a pacifier, there are many creative ways to help give up the pacifier when you no longer need it.