All Things Pacifiers
Newborns and Pacifiers are highly discussed among parents and caregivers (postpartum doulas, night nurses, night nannies). Researching now, I feel there is a gap between the AAFP + AAP guidelines and reading material going over the pros, cons, and introduction/weaning of pacifiers. So let's go over what we do know!
Pacifiers are a great source to support non-nutritive suck
Non-nutritive suck refers to sucking behaviors in babies that occur without the intake of nourishment (breast milk and formula). Infants exposed to non-nutritive suck have been shown to have more comfort/security, stronger (fuller) feeds, and even better digestion.
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Pacifiers have been shown to reduce SIDS by up to 90%
The American Academy of Family Physicians officially recommends offering a pacifier for reducing the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Multiple studies have shown that pacifiers, specifically at bedtime, reduce SIDS by up to 90%. Our night nurses, doulas, and sleep specialists all care for the safety of your baby!
If Pacifiers are used for too long, they pose a risk of health issues
The AAP recommends weaning off pacifiers in the second 6 months of life to reduce the risk of Otitis Media (middle ear infection). ADA highly discourages pacifier use after your child turns 4 years old to avoid dental malocclusion (misalignment of the teeth, such as open bite, crossbite, or overjet)
Pacifiers don’t affect the success of breastfeeding newborns
Research has shown that pacifiers don’t negatively affect breastfeeding duration or success. If you are a breastfeeding mother, I want to specifically highlight that the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) suggests waiting until breastfeeding is established. That doesn’t mean you cannot introduce a pacifier, but it would be best to wait till your baby is about a few weeks or even a month old.
Pacifier Safety, Introduction, and Weaning
Safety Tips:
Never attach a pacifier around your baby’s limbs (pacifier clips that attach to their clothing are okay to use while your baby is awake).
Never use a bottle nipple as a pacifier.
Frequently check your baby’s pacifier for signs of wear and tear - and replace at the first sign.
Look for a pacifier that’s dishwasher-safe for easier cleaning.
Clean your pacifier frequently.
Never force a pacifier on your baby.
How to introduce a pacifier to a baby
Set realistic expectations. Overall, it is important to note that each baby is different, so expect to explore different brands/shapes.
Hold your calm, swaddled baby
Apply light pressure on the baby’s lower lip and wait for the sucking reflex to start.
Move the pacifier in circles around your baby’s mouth
If your baby gets frustrated, stop and try again another time.
It might be best to try after a feeding.
When to wean the pacifier
Overall, there is no “right” time to wean from the pacifier. As mentioned above, the AAP recommends weaning off pacifiers in the second 6 months of life, and the ADA highly discourages pacifier use after your child turns 4. In terms of the “easiest” time, a lot of our Newborn Care Specialists recommend around 4 months.
Final Thoughts
Pacifiers are a great tool for sleep, reducing SIDS, and satisfying non-nutritive suck. If your baby doesn’t take one, you can still have a great sleeper. As a Newborn Care Specialist and Postpartum Doula, there are other ways to soothe a newborn through the night without a Pacifier. Feel free to reach out to Harmony Baby Concierge for any advice or childcare needs!
Harmony Baby Concierge is a full-service Newborn Care + Postpartum Support Agency based in Dallas, Austin and Houston, Texas.. We have a well-rounded team of Newborn Care Specialists, Night Nurses, Postpartum Doulas, Newborn Night Nannies and Baby Nurses. We provide lactation support, newborn care, night nursing, gentle sleep training and parent education to families of newborns. We serve all families with love, warmth and care. Serving: Dallas, Austin, Houston, Highland Park, University Park, Kessler Park, Lake Highlands, Lakewood, Plano, Frisco, Celina, Prosper, Fort Worth, Southlake, Westlake, Irving, Preston Hollow, Park Cities, Grand Prairie, Carrollton, Houston, Manvel, Galveston, West University, Austin, Barton Creek, Round Rock, Houston, Denver, New York City, Greenwich CT, Manhattan, Brooklyn, Englewood Colorado, Cherry Hills Village CO, and Surrounding Areas
Sources:
Perception of pacifier use among caregivers of infants 0–1 years of age - Aashika Janwadkar, Genefer Duran, T. Deseree Irving, Dhaivat Shah, Ronald Arevalo, Miguel Sanchez, Janine Adjo, David Rubin, 2023 Janwadkar, A. et al. (2023) ‘Perception of pacifier use among caregivers of infants 0–1 years of age’, Journal of Investigative Medicine, 71(8), pp. 941–945. doi:10.1177/10815589231193952.
When is the use of pacifiers justifiable in the baby-friendly hospital initiative context? A clinician’s guide | BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth Lubbe, W. and ten Ham-Baloyi, W. (2017) ‘When is the use of pacifiers justifiable in the baby-friendly hospital initiative context? A clinician’s guide, BMC Pregnancy and Childbirth, 17(1). doi:10.1186/s12884-017-1306-8.
Infant pacifiers for reduction in risk of sudden infant death syndrome - Psaila, K - 2017 | Cochrane Library Psaila, K. et al. (2017) ‘Infant pacifiers for reduction in risk of sudden infant death syndrome’, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, 2017(4). doi:10.1002/14651858.cd011147.pub2.
