Should I let my baby use a pacifier?

This depends on who you ask. 

• Breastfeeding purists say stick to your guns and keep pacifiers out of your newborn’s mouth. Others forewarn that pacifiers are simply a bad habit waiting to happen.
• Recent data, however, suggests that pacifiers may be a protective factor against sudden infant death syndrome.  
• Pacifiers can be a great tool. Many babies soothe themselves through sucking.  Pacifiers can help calm fussy babies and give a much needed reprieve to weary newborn parents.  

At the end of the day, there is not right or wrong answer.  Do what you think is right for your family. 

What is the best pacifier to use?

• These days, picking the perfect pacifier may seem like a considerable task, given all of the various brands and styles on the market. To the best of our knowledge, there’s no correlation between price or marketing strategy and effectiveness, so we simply recommend trying one out and seeing if your baby likes it.

My baby won’t take a pacifier, should I be concerned?

• Passing on pacifiers – If your baby just isn’t that much of a “sucker,” they may not need to be soothed by a pacifier at all. Just be thankful that there’s one less thing to keep track of during the day, and consider offering one as they are falling asleep.

When should my baby stop using a pacifier?

• Most Pediatricians and Pediatric Dentists recommend discontinuing pacifier use during the second year of life (ie. 12-24 months) but different providers often have different feelings and philosophies on what time is best.

What’s the best way to get a child to stop sucking their thumb or using a pacifier? 

There is no one right way, but here are a few options: 

• Cold Turkey – First, limit pacifiers to the crib and carseat.  This will help break the dependency and allow your child to develop other soothing/coping skills – rather than relying on the pacifier. Then, go cold turkey.  Pick a milestone date, lose the pacifiers, or plan a visit from the “pacifier fairy” to take them away.  After a few challenging days, most toddlers will move on.
• Behavioral reinforcement – Praise and reward your child when they do not suck their thumb or use a pacifier. Star charts, daily rewards, and gentle reminders are very helpful.
• Distract – If your child uses sucking to relieve boredom, keep their hands busy or distract with things they find fun.
• Splints – If you see changes in the roof of your child’s mouth (palate) or in the way the teeth are lining up, talk to us or your pediatric dentist. There are devices that can be put on the thumb/figners that make it uncomfortable to suck.