Pacifiers are easy and quick that can turn crying babies into quiet and calm infants. While there is no denying that pacifiers work wonders, there are many warnings and potential pitfalls to introducing a baby to it.
The most obvious benefits of pacifiers are that they soothe a fussy infant, ease discomfort and help them fall asleep. Pacifiers also offer a temporary distraction that comes in handy during tricky medical procedures.
Research has shown that pacifiers have decreased the risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Other research shows that pacifiers open up air space in the mouth ensuring the baby gets enough oxygen. Due to the reduced risk for SIDS, the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended that babies under the age 1 to use pacifiers before nap and bedtime.
Unfortunately, babies can get too attached to pacifiers making it a difficult habit to break once it's time to get rid of the binky. Babies who only know how to sleep with a pacifier will have a difficult time falling asleep on their own.
In addition, parents become too dependent on the pacifier. Using a pacifier can be a bad habit for the parent as well as this can overlook the real reasons for an infant's cry.
Many experts argue against using pacifiers for the first few weeks at home because this is usually a period of learning. Parents are only starting to learn cues that indicate hunger, pain, illness, the need for sleep, a need to be changed or gas.
Pacifiers are also said to interfere with breastfeeding since this is different from a pacifier. Babies will tend to latch on the breast ineffectively can cause problems for the mother such as sore nipples.
Research has also noted that early use of pacifiers has been associated with a decrease in exclusivity and duration of breastfeeding, according to Mayo Clinic. Pacifiers have also become a concern for an infant's dental health since it has been linked to misaligned teeth, changes in the roof of the mouth and recurrent ear infections.
Newborn babies to kids of up to 4 years old can suck on pacifiers, according to Modern Mom. Experts suggest ditching it before the baby's first birthday since the cons start to outweigh the pros.
