Nowadays, more and more parents choose to use pacifiers to soothe their crying babies, but some parents worry that the baby will become overly dependent on the pacifier.
The sucking reflex is a kind of innate reflex that babies have.
Here are some benefits of sucking on a pacifier when your baby doesn’t need breastfeeding:
Soothe baby’s irritability. Especially for babies with strong sucking reflexes.
Distract your baby. For example, during or after operations that cause pain, such as vaccinations, blood tests, etc., let the baby suck on a pacifier to distract the baby and reduce crying.
Help your baby fall asleep. Allowing your baby to suck on a pacifier before bed can help your baby calm down and fall asleep faster.
Relieve discomfort when flying. When the plane is taking off and landing, the air pressure changes greatly, which will make passengers feel uncomfortable in their ears (related reading: “Why does a small cold become otitis media after taking the plane?”). Babies don’t swallow or open their mouths to relieve discomfort like adults do, and sucking on a pacifier can help.
Reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Babies who use pacifiers have a lower risk of sudden infant death.
Quitting is relatively easy. Pacifiers can be discarded when the habit needs to be broken, and if the baby is used to eating fingers, it is more difficult to break (fingers are readily available…).
▍ The baby is overly dependent on the pacifier
The problem with using a pacifier to help your baby fall asleep is that the baby wakes up crying at night, requiring the parent to put the pacifier in his mouth and suck it back to sleep (though this is better than cuddling).
▍ May increase the risk of otitis media
However, the odds of developing otitis media are low within 6 months of age, when the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) is highest, so the American Academy of Pediatrics still recommends the use of a pacifier when falling asleep within 1 year of age.
▍ Long-term use may cause dental problems
If the baby quits the pacifier within the age of 2-3, it will generally not cause significant impact on the dentition, even if the impact is temporary, it will disappear after the pacifier is quit.
However, if it is used frequently after the age of 4, or even continues to the mixed dentition period (6-7 years old), it will cause irreversible malformations or aggravate existing occlusal problems.
It’s up to you and your baby to decide.
This is not a black and white issue, the key is to use it correctly and in moderation, neither overly dependent nor avoiding it.
Because of the fear that the pacifier will cause dependence, for the non-nutritive sucking needs of the child, they use breastfeeding to soothe themselves, and turn themselves into a human-shaped pacifier; or use the pacifier as a “lazy artifact”, which the child can use whenever he cries, regardless of the child. What are the real needs of these are too extreme.
Proper use of a pacifier does more harm than good. The following are precautions when using a pacifier.
▍ When can I start using a pacifier?
Because of concerns about nipple confusion interfering with breastfeeding, the World Health Organization and UNICEF’s Baby-Friendly Hospitals Initiative recommends avoiding the use of pacifiers in breastfed babies under 1 month.
But a growing body of research suggests that early pacifier use does not affect breastfeeding, and babies seem to be able to differentiate between nutritious and non-nutritive sucking, and more research is needed in this regard. Until a conclusion is reached, it is recommended that exclusively breastfed babies start using a pacifier after one month.
When your child is 1 to 2 years old, you can start thinking about quitting pacifiers, but you don’t need to force it.
As children age, they develop greater ability to regulate their emotions and fall asleep on their own, and their reliance on pacifiers decreases. Under normal circumstances, most children will quit pacifiers on their own at the age of 2 to 4. Sometimes children don’t want to use pacifiers themselves, and sometimes they forget to bring pacifiers when traveling, and parents find that children can still accept them.
But there are also a small number of children who need parental help. When a child chooses not to use a pacifier on his own, he should be praised. If your child is having difficulty weaning off the pacifier, there are a few things you can try.
▍ Method 1: Three-Day Plan
first day. It’s great to tell your child that you see him wanting to grow up in the morning and before bed. In three more days it’s time for him to say goodbye to the pacifier, you know he can do it and will work with him. Talk for 30 seconds, like asking your child for permission. If the child is reluctant, respond to his feelings “I know you don’t want to” and move on. Don’t worry about your child becoming anxious because of advance notice. Like adults, children are more willing to prepare mentally, physically, and emotionally for change.
the next day. Repeat the conversation from the first day, but replace the next three days with tomorrow and “within three days” with “tomorrow”. Don’t force your thoughts, keep your tone and attitude calm.
Day three. Remind your child that it’s time for a pacifier. Like playing a scavenger hunt, ask your child if they would like to help. If he protests, put the pacifier in a plastic bag too. Tell your child that the pacifier will be recycled into a new toy. Letting your child know that the pacifier will be recycled is better than throwing away their precious pacifier. However, this does not mean that the child will not collapse, and gently respond to the child’s emotions “you can’t bear it” and “you miss your pacifier so much”, but persevere. Most children can accept no pacifier in 48 hours.
▍ Method 2: Gradual abstinence method
First, start preparing when your child is in a good mood. If the child is used to not using a pacifier at home, and restricting the use of a pacifier when going out, needless to say, you can simply tell the child “leave the pacifier at home and don’t come out”. Then advance to “The pacifier stays in the baby’s bed, does not come down”.
▍ Method 3: Make up some short stories
For example, the pacifier elf or Santa wants to collect children’s pacifiers to distribute to new-born babies, and to give new toys to grown-up children.
▍ Method 4: Hold a “farewell ceremony” for the pacifier
For older children, use a special ritual to say goodbye to the pacifier, such as burying it, or exchanging the pacifier for a special toy or book.
Either way, you need to be prepared for 1-5 nights to cheer up, as the process of weaning your child off the pacifier will definitely be accompanied by crying. But don’t give up no matter what happens, or you’ll just have to give up.
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