The Pros & Cons of Pacifiers
Is a Pacifier Right for My Baby?
Sucking is incredibly soothing for babies, especially newborns. Whether it's nutritive or non-nutritive, sucking stimulates the vagus nerve, an integral nerve in regulating the autonomic nervous system and socioemotional functions (Field & Diego, 2008; Segal, 2022). This stimulation helps calm your baby, supporting rest and digest functions over the fight or flight response.
The American Academy of Pediatrics also recommends pacifier use as it has been associated with a reduced risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) (Hauck et al., 2005).
Pacifiers can be introduced as early as day one, although some lactation consultants recommend waiting about a month to avoid potential nipple confusion. Researching and deciding what feels right for you is crucial, as pacifiers can also aid in improving latch during breastfeeding.
Pros and Cons of Pacifier Use
Pros:
Your little one can comfort suck - often called “non-nutritive” sucking. Comfort nursing can be wonderful, but if a breastfeeding mama has a strong let down this may inadvertently lead to tummy issues - such as gas. Uncomfortable babies tend to not sleep well. The same goes for formula fed babies, you may notice that your little one wants to suck but you know they just ate. Pacifiers allow them to get the same calming effect without the potential discomfort.
Pacifiers can be used when the breast isn’t easily accessible - say you are in the car or another caregiver is watching the baby.
Pacifiers can be used to help improve latch - for either the breast or the bottle. You can practice the latch over and over again to help them get the optimal latch possible. A good latch can help improve tummy issues - as poor latch can exacerbate reflux and/or gas issues.
Pacifiers can help identify tongue/lip ties. If your little one has a hard time holding onto a paci, it may be an indicator that they may have a tongue/lip tie. All newborns will be a little awkward with the pacifier at first, but if you have consistently attempted the paci and they are still struggling, consider visiting a pediatric dentist and/or lactation consultant to rule out a possible tie.
Once babies can reinsert their own paci (usually somewhere between 7-9 months), it can be an easy and low effort soothing tool to help them go to and get back to sleep if they wake up.
Cons:
Pacifiers can make it more difficult for parents to identify feeding cues. If you have a baby who regularly has a paci in their mouth, it can be difficult to see when they are hungry. In this instance, it is important to make sure you are offer feeds (for newborns) every 2-3 hours during the day and offering the paci when you know they are not hungry.
Many parents experience the pacifier yo-yo, when your little one is dependent on the pacifier to sleep but they keep spitting it out and are not strong and coordinated enough to put the paci back in their mouth. Unfortunately, there is no safe way to keep the pacifier in your little one’s mouth, so you may have some back and forth until baby can reinsert the paci on their own.
There is some concern from pediatric dentists that excessive pacifier use can cause potential dental/palate issues. Check with your pediatric dentist about their opinion of pacifiers and the potential issues.
Paci dependent babies will have to be weaned from the pacifier eventually and this can cause sleep disturbances. Generally, the best age to wean from the pacifier is before six months or after age two.
Overall Takeaways
If you choose to offer your baby a pacifier, ensure it is appropriately sized as they grow. Different pacifiers are designed for different ages to support proper palate and airway development.
Remember, not all babies take to pacifiers, and that's okay! Persistence and patience are key as they learn to latch onto and keep the pacifier in their mouth, much like with bottle-feeding or breastfeeding. You can also try combining pacifier use with techniques like the 5 S's for soothing.
Conclusion
In conclusion, whether to offer your newborn a pacifier involves weighing the benefits and potential drawbacks while considering your baby's individual needs and preferences. Trust your parent intuition and seek guidance from healthcare professionals as needed!
References:
Field, T., & Diego, M. (2008). Vagal activity, early growth and emotional development. Infant Behavior and Development, 31(3), 361-373. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.infbeh.2007.12.008
Hauck, F. R., Omojokun, O. O., & Siadatay, M. S. (2005). Do pacifiers reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome? A meta-analysis. Pediatrics, 116(5), 716-723. https://doi.org/10.1542/peds.2004-2631
Segal, D. (2022). Vagus nerve: What to know. Brain & Nervous System. https://www.webmd.com/brain/vagus-nerve-what-to-know
