When to give a baby a pacifier – Happy Baby!

When to give a baby a pacifier – Inspirational guide article for parents

Babies

Using pacifiers during the early weeks of birth is not recommended. It may disturb the nursing pattern and confuses baby in the nipple sucking method. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) answering a question “when to give a baby a pacifier” that, let your baby first adopt the nursing pattern”.

Don’t perplex yourself over the so-called nipple confusion in infants, it’s simple as that as changing your little one’s diaper!

Be a frank mother at the 1st month of your baby. Adopt the liberal ideas and smart hacks as introducing pacifier to your baby from 2nd month and so on”.

Mothers often ask when to give a baby a pacifier when breastfeed? Well a quick answer should be precise as you feel tired while breastfeeding and your nursing parts (breasts) run out of milk as well but the baby wants more! At right this time give your baby a pacifier so he/she can self-soothe.

For you assurance here we have start this article with some pros and cons of pacifier.

Pros of pacifier

Honestly speaking, different babies have different sucking tendencies. Study shows some babies even suck their thumb or finger before birth.

That’s true! unfortunately it doesn’t provide any nutrition or energy but baby gets his most wanted joy; soothing and calming effect! 

Many Parents want to rank pacifiers with diapers as early age needs of a baby. Keeping aside the common pros of pacifier like; self-soothing, help in sleeping and less crying, you should know some extra pacifier’s pros and cons.

Decreases Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)

Pacifiers help baby half-awake, which means the baby reduces the SIDS risks. It may often cause due to non-stimulus factors in infants and causes sudden death. American Academy Of Pediatrics (AAP) tells us to use the pacifier but never attach or hang in the neck of a baby when bedtime or little nap. Hanging pacifiers can cause choking problems.

Helps in Air Travel

Going on a trip abroad? Bring some pacifiers for your little one because “jaw sucking motion” provides a shift in the middle ear. She will not feel ear pressure when the airplane takes off or descends. Helpful in Stressful Conditions

During the midweeks of the baby’s first-year vaccination and other preventive measures take place regarding health issues. A few injections could be painful and make the worst situations for both mother & baby. At this time you would love to give a pacifier to your baby.

Cons of Pacifier

You must be thinking how can a little comfort availing and baby’s favorite tool be harmful? Being true this adorable tool can be stressful for some parents. Scroll a little down but don’t worry they are not much like stressing

Distraction Breastfeeding Cycle

The physical shape of breast nipple is different from those of pacifiers or bottles. Babies may feel difficulty while feeding on different nipples and it could result in an uneven feeding cycle. Hence, early use of pacifiers should not be considered

Dental Problems And Ear Infections

As your baby gets older and starts to grow teeth then pacifier may change their smile. Sucking motion in the oral cavity consists of close contact of teeth and those get affected from it. You would easily find the ear infection stories of infants due to pacifiers.

Some stories are based on constant sucking motion of lower jaw in oral cavity. You may simply detailed stories on social media groups. Surely, some will be inspirational for you.

Leaving Baby Entirely on the Pacifiers

Hey Moms! Keep in mind that your baby should not be addicted to a pacifier. When the pacifier falls out of the baby’s mouth then your baby might wake up and a heavy cry may break your sleep.

Tips

If you have finally decided to give pacifier shot to your baby then following tips may help you a lot.

  • Don’t give pacifiers before the breastfeeding cycle is properly established. American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests not to giving your baby in first month or until you have properly maintained a feeding pattern.
  • Don’t make pacifiers a solution to every baby problem. Be a smart mom and try to play a little with your angle or try to change some feeding positions or when your baby is about to sleep but faces difficulty. Pacifiers should not be used made up of local plastic material or low quality as it could lead to choking hazards.
  • Don’t overdo anything – You must have heard this. Simply don’t push pacifier into the baby’s mouth if he/she is not interested in it. Let your baby move his/her sight and witness the world!
  • Never put any kind of sweet on the pacifier as it results in cavity problems for the newborns and that may a bring bunch of stress into your life.
  • Do change the pacifier frequently; as the aerial virus or bacteria may settle on the pacifier nipple. This way, the bacteria may dive into little angel’s tummy and resulting in some viral/bacterial diseases.
  • Never make pacifier an alternative of breastfeeding. Studies show that babies who use pacifiers have shorter nipple sucking reflex; which eventually will affect baby’s breastfeeding and milk sucking capability.

Can a baby sleep with a pacifier all night?

So you’re one of those moms who have been wondering when to give a baby a pacifier or is it safe to leave your baby with a pacifier all night? – Well don’t worry; we are here to guide you with some little techniques.

Don’t attach your baby’s binky (pacifier) with any string as it might lead to some serious choking problems for your baby while sleeping, make sure to give the baby safe suited pacifier.

Parents ask especially Mothers that should I remove pacifier when baby is sleeping? Experts from American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) say, it depends on the circumstance you’re in when asking the question.

is your baby too dependent on the pacifier or your baby doesn’t love his binky much and can give it off while sleep! It is entirely on you to handle it and I’m sure moms are talented enough to solve this pacifier mystery.

How long should a baby use a pacifier?

As we know pacifiers are used to calm the baby and give him enough soothing comfort that he doesn’t bother his overtime working mother or single mother.

We are thankful to you that you liked this study and kept scrolling down that found what you needed. Answering previous questions like when to give a baby a pacifier.

I would like to tell you that the pacifier should be used according to mood swings of baby and breastfeeding cycle. Otherwise when your infant is hungry, feed him.

However, babies still cry even when they have a full stomach (that could be due to lack of comfort they enjoyed in their pre-birth home womb!)

A mother should set a good time routine for certain things for her baby; sleeping pattern, feeding, excretion, and exercise as well. Your baby shows alertness and increases body movements which should clearly tell you that he hungry; wants to fill up his little tummy!

In the middle of our discussion, I’d mention that you know pacifiers are manmade and the process itself too.

Your baby won’t show the indirect gestures to tell you about his pacifying needs but it’s you which has to adopt an alternative method to let your baby self-soothe. 

Avoid pacifiers if;

When you experience these following problems, experts suggest avoiding the usage of pacifiers.

  • Pacifier lover: babies have less frequency or shorter feeding length and this should definitely be avoided when your baby is only 2-4 weeks older; when 8-12 times feeding a day is mandatory.
  • Nipple confusion: when frequent use of a pacifier has occurred the baby finds difficulty in the sucking reflexes which can cause significant loss of feeding intensity.
  • When a Mom notices: a decrease in breast milk then she should cut out the pacifier time and replace it with breastfeeding as more sucking will stimuli more milk production in breasts.

Over to you

If you’re a new parent and trying to find the best way to care and comfort for your child then a pacifier is good idea to take

If your baby is quite young, let him first adopt the breastfeeding pattern and till he recognizes breast nipple.

When your baby shortens the feeding length, stop using a pacifier. If ear infection and oral cavity infection appears then stop using the pacifier. Use the best quality and well size suited for your young’s age.

  References

·        US National Library of Medicine

·        American Academy of Pediatrics

·        World Health Organization

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *