Are Pacifiers Good For Your Baby? Consider The Pros And Cons

Most babies have a strong sucking reflex. Some babies even suck their thumbs or fingers before they’re born. Beyond nutrition, sucking often has a soothing, calming effect. That’s why many parents rank pacifiers as must-haves, right up there with diaper wipes and baby swings.

The Pros

For some babies, pacifiers are the key to contentment between feedings. Consider the advantages:

A pacifier might soothe a fussy baby. Some babies are happiest when they’re sucking on something.
A pacifier offers temporary distraction. A pacifier might come in handy during and after shots, blood tests or other procedures.
A pacifier might help your baby fall asleep. If your baby has trouble settling down, a pacifier might do the trick.
A pacifier might ease discomfort during flights. Babies can’t intentionally “pop” their ears by swallowing or yawning to relieve ear pain caused by air pressure changes. Sucking on a pacifier might help.
A pacifier might help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sucking on a pacifier at nap time and bedtime might reduce the risk of SIDS. If you’re breast-feeding, wait to offer a pacifier until your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old and you’ve settled into an effective nursing routine.
Pacifiers are disposable. When it’s time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your child prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, it might be more difficult to break the habit.

The Cons

Of course, pacifiers have pitfalls as well. Consider the drawbacks:

Early pacifier use might interfere with breast-feeding. Sucking on a breast is different from sucking on a pacifier or bottle, and some babies are sensitive to those differences. Research suggests that early use of artificial nipples is associated with decreased exclusive breast-feeding and duration of breast-feeding — although it’s not clear if artificial nipples cause breast-feeding problems or serve as a solution to an existing problem.
Your baby might become dependent on the pacifier. If your baby uses a pacifier to sleep, you might face frequent middle-of-the-night crying spells when the pacifier falls out of your baby’s mouth.
Pacifier use might 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 might be most interested in a pacifier.
Prolonged pacifier use might lead to dental problems. Normal pacifier use during the first few years of life doesn’t cause long-term dental problems. However, prolonged pacifier use might cause a child’s teeth to be misaligned or not come in properly.

 

Culled from: mayoclinic.org