The Use of Pacifiers in Children

What are the Benefits of Pacifier Use?

• It can soothe your baby.
• It can be useful in distracting your baby during vaccines, blood tests, or other medical procedures and afterwards.
• It can help your baby fall asleep.
• During air travel with air vehicles, it can help relieve ear pain.
• Sucking on a pacifier at sleep time and before bed can reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome.

What are the Risks of Pacifier Use?

• Pacifiers can cause dependency in your baby.
• Extended pacifier use can increase the risk of middle ear infections. This probability is very low in the first 6 months.
• Prolonged pacifier use that hangs on after the age of 2 can lead to dental and palate problems.
• Pacifier use can especially disrupt breastfeeding within the first month. After the first month, it is not thought to affect breastfeeding.

When and Which Pacifier Should Be Preferred?

Silicone pacifiers made of silicone should be preferred for babies who have not yet teething. For babies who have started teething, rubber pacifiers, which are more durable against tooth impacts, should be preferred.

Pacifiers are divided into anatomical (palate) and non-anatomical (palate-free). It is advisable to prefer mostly palate-free (non-anatomical) pacifiers because they resemble the mother's breast in the first year. After the age of 1, palate pacifiers should be used as palate-free pacifiers can harm the teeth and palate structure.

What are some Key Points about Pacifiers?

• Do not resort to the convenience of giving the pacifier to soothe your child. Sometimes a change in position or rocking can soothe a crying baby.
• Give the pacifier to your baby only after feedings.
• Choose a single piece, washable pacifier that can be washed in the dishwasher. Pacifiers with two pieces pose a choking hazard.
• Allow your baby to determine his/her need for the pacifier himself/herself. Do not force it if your baby is not interested in the pacifier.
• Boil or wash the pacifiers in the dishwasher frequently until your baby is 6 months old and until the immune system matures. After 6 months, wash the pacifiers with soap and water.
• Do not rins the pacifier in your own mouth. This way you only transmit infections to your baby.
• Do not soak the pacifier in sugary foods such as jam or molasses.
• Change the pacifiers your baby uses frequently and use a pacifier that is suitable for your baby's age.
• Never tie the pacifier to a string or ribbon long enough to wrap around your baby's neck.
• Discontinuation of pacifier habit should be before 2 years old at the latest. Otherwise, it can lead to dental and palate problems and through dependency, to psychological problems.