When To Introduce A Pacifier
Theres evidence that pacifier use has little impact on breastfeeding in healthy, full-term babiesbut theres no conclusive evidence on when a pacifier should be introduced. Because of that, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends waiting to introduce the pacifier until breastfeeding is well established. That means, hold off until your milk supply is sufficient and consistent and your baby has mastered an effective latch. For infants who arent fed directly at the breast, you can introduce a paci as soon as youd like.
Read This Before You Invest In Those Cute Looking Pacifiers
Written by Debjani Arora | Published : October 30, 2017 1:45 PM IST
You will see this in the shopping malls, departmental stores, in flights, at the paediatricians waiting area among other places: where a baby is quietly tugged in either her mother s or father s arm suckling on a pacifier. It looks cute for the onlookers. No mess, no wailing, just a calm and quiet baby going about cooperating with the parents to finish their business. If you are planning to do the same, don t! Pacifier isn t the best thing to offer your little baby. There is a reason why paediatricians are against it. Here are seven ways to handle your baby s temper tantrums.
Babies find it comfortable to suckle and giving a dummy fulfils this need and keeps them calm and quiet. But there is a lot of damage that parents do in the way. Remember, a pacifier isnt a substitute for nursing or feeding. Most newborns cry for a feed during the initial days. So even after feeding the baby and playing with her, if she is still fussy, then few mothers use pacifiers to calm them. But pacifiers have their own drawbacks, says Dr Suresh Gowda, Consultant Neonatologist and Paediatrician, Motherhood Hospitals, Bengaluru.
Here he lists a few reasons for the same:
Newborns Sleeping With Pacifiers: Everything You Need To Know
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Pacifier, Binky, Nuk, Soother, Dummy. I love pacifiers.yes, even for newborns, sleeping babies, and breastfed babies! I get so many questions from parents about newborns sleeping with a pacifier. Let’s talk about why I love pacifiers, how to introduce the pacifier, and what to do if the pacifier keeps falling out of your baby’s mouth.
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Concerns About Pacifier Use
Every child is different, with unique needs and abilities. Some babies can go back and forth between breastfeeding and a pacifier without any problems, while pacifiers may pose some challenges for others. Some of the concerns about pacifier uselike the risk of nipple confusion, breast refusal, and low milk supplyare only relevant for breastfed babies.
Is A Pacifier Recommended For A Breastfed Baby
When it comes to early pacifier-use and nursing, expert advice is clear.
I do not recommend pacifier-use for newborns, says Aubri Lutz, an IBCLC with Lactation Link in Utah. This is because you want to establish successful breastfeeding prior to introducing artificial nipples to the baby.
Lutz explains that research has shown introducing artificial nipples can lead to nipple confusion and even early weaning from breastfeeding if nursing hasnt been well established beforehand.
The remedy? Patience, perseverance and practicelike all things in parenting.
To prevent nipple confusion, keep all suckling at the breast for the early weeks and avoid use of pacifiers during growth spurts. If your baby is showing hunger cues, it is best to put her directly to breast for a breastfeeding session. With too much use of a pacifier, parents decrease the suckling time at the breast this decreased time at the breast can translate to lower milk supply, says Lutz.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also encourages waiting until breastfeeding is well established before introducing a pacifier. According to Lutz, well established breastfeeding would entail no pain or issues with latch, diaper output is appropriate for age, weight gain has started to steadily increase, and baby is overall meeting developmental milestones.
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Why Is It Bad For Babies To Sleep On Their Side
The main risk of putting a baby to sleep on their side is that they will fall onto their stomach. When a baby is too young to support their head, this may mean that their face becomes stuck against the mattress, making it hard to breathe. Most babies can fully support and lift the head by the age of 4 months.
How Do I Stop Popping The Pacifier Back In All Night#
My First Five Months Bundle provides step-by-step guidance to decrease the need for pacifier popping all night long. My 524 Month Collection allows your baby to have a pacifier at nap time and bedtime, but helps eliminate the need for you to replace it all night long!
If your baby is 5 months or older, be sure to check out this binky game to help your baby learn to replace the pacifier on her own!
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Can A Pacifier Interfere With Breastfeeding
Sucking on a pacifier and sucking on a breast are different actions, and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that you wait until your baby is breastfeeding well before offering a pacifier to avoid interfering with early feeding.
The AAP suggests waiting until your breastfed baby is 3 or 4 weeks old, though that’s just a guideline. If your baby is nursing well, gaining weight, and has settled into a routine feeding schedule, your baby’s doctor may say you can start earlier.
However, it’s especially important to delay introducing a pacifier if your baby is having trouble latching or if you’re concerned about low milk supply. And be careful not to offer your baby a binky when he might be hungry. Give him the pacifier after his regular feedings to make sure he gets all the nourishment he needs first.
Why Should You Give Your Baby A Pacifier
Pacifiers have many useful benefitsfor fussy babies and tired parents alike.
Medically reviewed by a board-certified pediatrician
Binky, paci, sootherwhatever nickname you call it, a pacifier is one of the quickest ways to help a baby feel comfortable. While some people used to wonder if pacifiers were bad for babies, the modern consensus is that pacifiers actually help babies in a number of ways. Here’s what you need to know about why babies love pacifiers, the benefits of pacifiers, and how to know when your newborn is ready for a pacifier.
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What Are The Benefits Of Pacifiers
Most pediatricians recommend pacifiers because they have many benefits, many of which make parenting just a little easier. For one thing, pacifiers can satisfy a baby’s need to suck beyond the breast or bottle. If your baby is fussy, offering a pacifier can, well, pacify them and help them self-soothe. If you’re wondering, “can my baby sleep with a pacifier?” the answer is yes! Pacifiers also reduce the risk of SIDS, so as long as your baby is healthy, it’s safe to let them fall asleep with a pacifier in their mouth.1 As they sleep, they’ll either suck on it or release it, so the pacifier won’t pose any risk of suffocation.
A Pacifier Allows For Non
Obviously, if a baby is hungry, you need to feed him. However, sometimes newborns have a drive to suck even after theyve finished eating. This is called non-nutritive sucking, which simply means sucking without gaining nutrition or calories.
Non-nutritive sucking has several benefits for your newborn:
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Releases endorphins in the brain
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Promotes relaxation
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Becomes a helpful tool to encourage sleep
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My Baby Wont Take A Pacifier
You were counting on using pacifiers. But your wee one isnt interested. Should you be worried? Try not to overthink it, Dr. Mudd says.
While pacifiers can be one tool for decreasing the risk of SIDS, they arent the most important. The most important thing is to practice safe sleep, Dr. Mudd says. Lie your baby down on their back, on a firm mattress, with no blankets or stuffed animals in the crib. As long as youre practicing safe sleep, I wouldnt be concerned about a baby not wanting a pacifier.
Pros And Cons Of Pacifier Use In Breastfed Babies
Parents of breastfed babies often wonder if its OK for their baby to use a pacifier. With all the opinions and conflicting information about pacifier use, their concerns are understandable. Fortunately, there is not sufficient evidence to suggest that pacifier use is bad for breastfeeding babies. In fact, using a pacifier may even be beneficial. Ultimately, whether or not you offer your baby a pacifier is a personal decision, but there are some pros and cons that may help you decide if its right for you and your family.
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Dummies: Advantages And Disadvantages
Sucking a dummy can help some babies settle. Sucking seems to have a soothing and settling effect on babies.
Also, when babies have dummies for every sleep, dummies might reduce SIDS risk.
But not all babies like dummies. There are other disadvantages to dummies too:
- Dummy use is linked to slightly higher rates of middle ear infections.
- Dummy use, especially beyond about 4-5 years of age, increases the chance of dental problems later in childhood for example, the problem of a childs teeth growing out of line.
- Babies who use dummies a lot during the day might find it harder to say words properly when they start to speak.
- Babies can get very upset when dummies are lost or misplaced.
- Babies can end up needing their dummies to get to sleep.
- If babies arent old enough to find their dummies and put them back in during the night, theyll cry for help. You can teach dummy independence when your baby is 8 months or older.
Eventually, your child will have to part with the dummy. Children whove had their dummies for some time are likely to be very attached to them. Our article on letting go of the dummy has tips for weaning your baby off the dummy when youre both ready.
Pacifiers Pros And Cons
There are pros to pacifier use. Ive already explained them, really. Many babies drive to suck exceeds their need to suck to obtain adequate nutrition. Some babies for whom this is true are breastfed, and mom wants or needs to be able to have the ability to move around and do other things once her baby is fed. This is especially true for second or third children. Other mothers dont mind so much spending the maximum time nursing their babies. After all, nursing is pleasurable for many women and releases love hormones in both mother and baby that facilitates bonding.
In bottle fed babies, feeding generally takes less time than breastfeeding. Bottle fed babies very often finish a bottle before the need to suck is satisfied, so a pacifier can be given immediately after the bottle to help the baby satisfy the need to suck. I sometimes wonder if the fussing some bottle fed babies do right after a bottle is confused for acid reflux when its really just an unmet sucking need. Of course, some babies wont ever take a pacifier, but most babies who are offered them take them eagerly, so eagerly that breaking the habit later can be difficult.
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Pacifiers And Baby Not Gaining Weight
Aside from nipple confusion, babies who are not gaining weight well while breastfeeding can see this problem exacerbated by pacifier use. Really, just using a pacifier in a baby who is struggling a little can cause more problems with weight gain. The reason has to do with the feeling of fullness babies get just from sucking.
In adults, our bodies release the hormone cholecystokinin when we eat a good meal. CCK helps us digest fats and proteins and is released when our stomachs have enough food. It makes of feel satisfied and tired, telling us to chill out and digest our food. Well, as it turns out, just the act of sucking causes babies bodies to release CCK. The CCK tells them that theyre full, even if no food was consumed. So if a parent notices a baby fussing and the baby is actually hungry, giving a pacifier will falsely give the baby a temporarily feeling that shes eaten and shell probably go to sleep for a while until her hunger gets really serious.
In a newborn with feeding problems, this can easily lead to a baby who receives less food per day and result in slow down weight gain. Having a baby skip or delay meals through use of pacifiers can also cause milk supply issues for mom down the road. Past the first week after birth or so, moms milk supply is determined by how much milk is taken out of her breasts by a baby or a pump. Its a supply and demand system.
Can A 4 Day Old Baby Sleep With A Pacifier
Yes, you can safely give your baby a pacifier at bedtime. To make it as safe as possible, though, make sure to follow these guidelines: DONT attach a string to the pacifier as this can present a strangling risk. DONT give your baby a pacifier at night while he or she is learning how to breastfeed.
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What Is The Best Pacifier For Newborns#
Different babies prefer different pacifiers. Some newborns prefer a flat nipple, others prefer more oval, and some prefer round. There are so many varieties to try. When youre shopping for a pacifier for your newborn, just be sure to choose the correct size. We dont want the pacifier to be too big for your newborns mouth. You can find some of my favorite pacifiers on my page.
Your Baby Is Smart Your Baby Is Not Confused
Your baby understands that eating from a bottle is easier than latching and suckling. It isn’t nipple confusion – it’s nipple preference! So let’s celebrate your smart baby! And we can support their need to suckle, and your desire to feed at the breast. Both can happen! To counter the smooth flow of milk from a bottle, we suggest you introduce Paced Bottle-Feeding.
If you want to use a pacifier, we recommend using it only when you know the pacifier is not delaying a feed. The need to suck is a real comfort, and some babies need to suck more than others. Pacifiers are a great way to help those babies find comfort in between feedings.
As for the type of pacifier to use, you may be feeling overwhelmed with the options!
Some brands you may consider:
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Natural rubber pacifier: natursutten
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Best for newborns: Mam Brand
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Do Look For Cylindrical
Breastfed babies often prefer pacifiers that more closely resemble the shape and feel of a nipple. Look for one made of soft silicone, which feels a lot like skin. As for shape, pacifiers with a rounded tip and cylindrical shape are closest to the shape your nipple forms during nursing.
Your baby may prefer a different kind of pacifier. If theyre feeding well, you can try a few to discover the one they like most.
Different Policies Regarding Pacifiers In Healthcare Department
To make this all clear as mud, hospitals have quite differing practices and policies regarding pacifiers for newborns. Some hospitals give them to quiet babies while they are away from their moms. In many hospitals, its standard operating procedure to separate mom and baby immediately after birth for around an hour for tests, washing, and observation. During that time, babies are frequently given pacifiers to keep them quiet. In hospitals with general nurseries, pacifier use is frequently automatic to get the babies to sleep.
However, if a hospital wants a Baby Friendly Hospital Initiative certification, they have to arrange their Labor and Delivery department to go without the traditional nursery and shift to keeping moms and babies together. This does limit the opportunity for a well meaning hospital staff to introduce the pacifier to your baby before you can say anything. However, I would recommend that if you dont want your baby to have a pacifier in the hospital, that you put it in your birth plan and let your nurse know you dont want it.
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When To Stop Using A Pacifier
The AAP and the AAFP recommend reducing or stopping pacifier use in the second 6 months of life. If you want to gradually wean your infant from the pacifier, you can consider a gentle sleep training method.
Some children will become more attached to their pacifiers and have a difficult time weaning from them before entering preschool. Long-term pacifier use can increase the risk for dental malocclusion . The ADA and AAPD recommend actively discouraging pacifier use before age 3 with optimal weaning taking place when canines emerge .
How Do You Tell If Baby Is Using You As A Pacifier
When you watch your baby, he will reduce the amount of swallowing and eventually stop swallowing completely. Baby may also start to clamp down on your nipple rather than suck. These are all signs he will give you based upon his suck and latch. His body and arms will also be floppy, and he may be relaxed or sleeping.
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