Are pacifiers addictive to babies and affect tooth development? Just pay attention to these 5 points

Regarding pacifiers, many parents worry that the baby will be “addicted” after using it, or that the teeth will grow crooked and affect their appearance.

In fact, pacifiers are not a scourge. Correct use not only makes it easier to coax the baby but also has many benefits for the baby:

1. Reduce crying and relieve emotions

A pacifier can satisfy your baby’s need for sucking and reduce crying.

2. Reduce baby discomfort

About 70% to 90% of babies will spontaneously suck to relieve pain and discomfort caused by illness.

3. Reduce the chance of sudden infant death syndrome

Because the use of pacifiers can significantly reduce the incidence of sudden infant death syndrome. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends using a pacifier during sleep as long as it does not interfere with breastfeeding.

Although there are many benefits of pacifiers, parents should also pay attention to the following points.

5 points to keep in mind when using a pacifier

1. Gradual abstinence before age 3

It is recommended that parents correct their child’s pacifier habit before the age of 3.

Although there are many benefits of pacifiers, if the child is 2 to 3 years old and is still sucking on the pacifier, it may have an impact on oral development. For example, the upper and lower teeth are not close together, the ground is covered, the upper front teeth are more protruding than the lower front teeth, and the upper jaw is protruding.

2. Do not use a slender rope to fix the pacifier on clothes or beds.

The rope may wrap around the baby’s neck and fingers, and if it is restrained, there may be risks such as hypoxia and ischemia.

3. Regularly use a high-temperature sterilized pacifier

The pacifier should be able to be repeatedly sterilized at a high temperature to keep the pacifier clean so that the baby does not get sick from the mouth.

4. Have extra pacifiers

If the baby gets dirty and cries, there is a replacement.

5. Don’t use pacifiers as a substitute for parental comfort

When the baby is crying, it should be comforted in time, and don’t let the baby be in a state of tension and anxiety for a long time, otherwise, the baby will continue to strengthen the sucking behavior, so as to help him gain a little sense of security.

In this way, it is easy for the baby to rely on the pacifier and it is difficult to wean it off.

The pacifier is just an auxiliary product, and what the baby needs more is the attention and care of the parents.

In addition, the purchase of pacifiers is also particular.