Never use a bottle nipple and ring in place of a pacifier; the nipple can separate from the ring and pose a choking hazard. Newborns rely on this "suck reflex" not only for sustenance but also for soothing.
Sucking provides a way for them to calm themselves. Thus, babies will suck—if not on a pacifier, then on a thumb, finger, bottle, or breast, says Karen Breach, MD, a pediatrician in Charlotte, North Carolina. While parents worry that binkies may harm baby's teeth , they typically have no effect on a child under 2.
Past age 4, pacifiers can cause an overbite, open bite, or crossbite—problems that affect chewing, speech, and appearance, and often require orthodontics to correct, notes Dr. Unfortunately, so-called orthodontic pacifiers don't make a difference. What matters is the frequency and intensity of the sucking habit. A way to soothe: The amount of time an infant spends crying increases from birth until about 6 weeks, when a baby cries for an average of three hours a day.
Howard, M. Sucking undoubtedly helps calm a baby, she adds, which is why pacifiers are so popular. Health benefits: The only proven medical benefits linked to pacifiers have been seen in preterm babies. Preemies who suck on binkies gain weight faster, according to a study published in the Swedish journal Acta Pediatrica.
Other research has found that preemies who use pacifiers shortly after birth show earlier sucking patterns and experience fewer health complications. Shapiro, M. Reduced risk of SIDS: Pacifiers are associated with a reduced risk of sudden infant death syndrome SIDS , according to four recent studies One study found that babies put to sleep with a pacifier were 20 times less likely to die of SIDS than were babies who slept without pacifiers.
Researchers speculate that pacifiers may keep babies from rolling onto their faces or may keep their tongues forward and away from their airways.
But since a cause-and-effect relationship has not been proven, researchers aren't sure how, or even if, pacifiers prevent SIDS. Ear infections: Pacifiers were found to be responsible for 25 percent of ear infections in children under 3 attending day care, according to a study published in Pediatrics in Restricting pacifier use to just before a child fell asleep, though, returned the risk to almost normal, a follow-up study in also in Pediatrics found. Why the link?
Pacifier sucking promotes fluid collection in the ears, which can lead to ear infections, Shapiro says. Early weaning from the breast: Offering a pacifier to a full-term baby may keep her from what she really needs—food. Indeed, several studies have linked pacifier use with early cessation of breastfeeding. However, a study reported in the Journal of the American Medical Association found that pacifiers probably were not to blame for early weaning.
The researchers concluded that their use is a sign of breastfeeding difficulties or reduced motivation to breastfeed. While the pacifier-breastfeeding connection remains a question, if you do give a binkie, it's best to wait. In some cases, these problems persist when permanent teeth come in. Here is where opinions diverge. Marolyn Morford, PhD, a developmental psychologist in State College, Pennsylvania, recommends discontinuing the pacifier by a year.
Breach allows more latitude: "It's okay to make pacifiers the last thing to go. A love of sucking is genetically passed from parent to child — one generation to the next —just like hair color or freckles. So, not am I only unconcerned about babies sucking, I encourage it! Always wash a brand new pacifier with soap and hot water before giving it to your baby. If it falls out of her mouth and on to the floor and it will!
Putting it in your mouth to clean it can pass along germs colds…even herpes. Research shows thatletting a baby suck on a pacifier while falling asleep can lower the risk of SIDS. Strong sucking can create pressure inside the ear.
Consider switching her off the pacifier to a cuddly lovey, like a blankey safe after your little one has passed the one year mark. Milk and fruit juice have tons of sugar. Sucking on a bottle or sippy cup of either of these for 20 minutes may cause cavities. So, if your childloves juice, keep the sucking time short.
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Highlights: Many parents wonder about the drawbacks of pacifiers, despite their amazing pacifying qualities! The Bad: prolonged pacifier use beyond 6 months can cause problems with oral motor development, increase the risk of ear infections, and may lead to misaligned teeth. All rights reserved. Step 2 of 2. Total Amount. Type of User: Profesional Consumer. Your account. Change your password. Pay as you go. Update Activity Package.
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