Pondering the Paci?
To paci or not to paci, that is the question!
On one hand, pacifiers can seem like a magic wand for soothing fussy infants, but on the other hand, some parents can start to feel the effects of paci pong. So what’s the right choice? Well, there isn’t necessarily a right or wrong (like much of parenting!) but let’s explore some pros and cons of pacifiers!
Pros:
1. Soothing Comfort: Babies love to suck. It is a natural reflex they are born with, and using pacifiers that they can suck on can be helpful for calming a fussy baby! It can also be helpful between feedings to give baby a paci to suck on for non-nutritive sucking. This can help ward off a need to feed to sleep association.
2. Sleep Aid: Pacifiers can become an integral part of your baby's sleep routine. The rhythmic sucking can help lull them into a state of relaxation, making it easier for them to fall asleep and stay asleep longer. It can be a signal or cue that it is time to sleep!
3. Reduced SIDS Risk: Some studies suggest that the use of a pacifier during sleep can be associated with a lower risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). While the exact reasons aren't entirely clear, it's believed that the sucking action might help maintain an open airway and stimulate the baby's arousal response.
Cons:
1. Dependency: While pacifiers can provide comfort, an overreliance on them might hinder your baby's ability to self-soothe and sleep long stretches at night. Babies who depend solely on pacifiers for comfort might struggle when it falls out during sleep cycles, leading to frequent night wakings or short naps. If you find yourself replacing the paci over and over (and over and over) again in your baby’s mouth to extend sleep, it could be your baby relies too heavily on it for sleep.
2. Dental Concerns: Extended pacifier use can affect the development of your baby's mouth and teeth alignment. I recommend dropping the paci by 18 months.
3. Sleep Associations: Just as pacifiers can be a sleep aid, they can also become a sleep association. If your baby relies heavily on the pacifier to fall asleep, they might struggle to self-soothe and resettle when it naturally falls out during sleep cycles.
More thoughts:
One concern with new parents is that offering a pacifier can interfere with breastfeeding. Well, I have good news! Research has actually shown that that is simply not the case! Offering pacifiers to breastfed babies will not cause confusion!
I always get asked my opinion on pacifiers, and generally speaking, I am a fan of them! They can be a great tool to settle a fussy baby. The only time I am not a fan of the pacifier is if a baby is so dependent on it to sleep that it is causing sleep disruptions.
One more tidbit about pacifiers–you may have to try different ones to see which one your baby prefers! There are many awesome brands out there like mam, nuk, or the soothies! Just be sure to get the right size so it isn’t too small or too big for your baby’s mouth!
In the end, the decision of whether to introduce a pacifier to your baby is a personal one. And some babies won’t take pacifiers! If that is the case, no need to push it too hard! You’re doing a great job!