New borns can cry for as many as two hours in a day. During these crying marathons, many new mothers confront a choice of offering pacifier to their crying baby. Sometimes after making the decision to offer pacifier, guilt overpowers them. These mothers may find some relief from the fact that American Academy of Paediatrics gives green light to pacifiers through out the baby’s first year.
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Sucking is a natural reflex of baby. For some babies the amount of sucking they get during feedings is less. Pacifiers can be a key to contentment between feedings for these babies. Bottle-feeding mothers can buy some time with pacifier while preparing milk for her hungry baby. Pacifier can make a restless baby sleep.
Moreover, it is easier to break the habit of sucking on a pacifier as compared to sucking on a thumb. You can throw a pacifier. Research proves that a pacifier may reduce the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome.
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Pacifiers may interfere with breast-feeding.
Babies may become dependent on pacifiers, and, you may have to wake up at night on hearing your baby cry to grope for the lost pacifier. Pacifiers may increase middle ear infection. Middle ear infections are most common in children below three years of age. The risk of ear infections is the lowest in the first six months when the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome is the highest.
When it comes to making decision, mother is the best judge.
Dos
Allow breastfeeding to establish, before you introduce pacifier to your baby.
When it comes to sucking on pacifier let the baby decide.
Replace cracked nipple and keep identical spares.
Wash pacifier thoroughly with soap and water; put it in hot water with white vinegar, equal parts to kill germs for ten minutes everyday.
Try to get your baby off pacifier after the first year.
Don’ts
Do not put pacifier in the mouth of a sleeping baby.
Do not shove in pacifier in your baby’s mouth every time she cries.
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