Give that baby a pacifier!
Here's my contention:
Every human infant on the planet should be offered a pacifier.
Aside from my copious stock options in binky companies, here's why:
There is pretty good (but perhaps not quite definitive) research to show that infants who suck on a pacifier have a significantly lower risk (perhaps as much as 45-90% less, depending on the study) of dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). (Yes, thumb-sucking also had a protective effect in at least one study, perhaps a 50% decrease).
The reasons for this association are not clear (especially since we really don't know what causes SIDS in the first place). Some wonder if the pacifier changes the airway in an important way, perhaps by moving the tongue forward or keeping the mouth open. Others speculate the sucking reflex stimulates the brain so it doesn't 'forget' to breathe or to sleep too deeply.
Who knows? (Really, who cares if it does the job?)
But them's fighting words. There are vociferous opponents - haters, really - of pacifiers, mostly because of the concern that their use will interfere with the initiation of breast feeding (although studies generally do not support this) or hasten weaning (which a few studies do suggest). Also pacifier use is associated with a small increase in ear infections in the first year.
Even the conservative American Academy of Pediatrics recommends the use of pacifiers for the first 12 months or so, with the following provisos:
- A bottle-fed baby can be offered a pacifier right away.
- Wait until breast feeding is well established to offer the pacifier (remember peak of SIDS is not until 2-4 months of age).
- Use it for all sleep and nap times.
- No need to keep putting it back in the mouth should it fall out.
- Don't use sweeteners on the nipple.
- Keep them clean!
The nice things about a pacifier (which the British call a "dummy", perhaps because it was first used only by the lower classes) is that you can get rid of it whenever you want (unlike the thumb). Since dental misalignment is not a concern for 4-5 years, you have plenty of time to decide when you are ready to face your infant/toddler's wrath at its banishment.
I only wish there were other as simple, effective, inexpensive and relatively risk-free public health interventions! Maggie Simpson has got it right. Power to the Pacie!
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Articles cited:
Do pacifiers reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome? A meta-analysis.
Hauk F, et al. Pediatrics, October 10, 2005.
Use of a dummy (pacifier) during sleep and risk of sudden infant death syndrome: population-based case-control study.
Li D, et al. British Medical Journal. December, 2005.
Related Topics: Nutrition During Breastfeeding, Infant Formula, Parkinson's Tie Probed
Technorati Tags: pacifiers, infant care, pediatrics, SIDS
13 Comments:
You trying to be controversial? You can do better than that! No arguments here.
Flea
I second that. A better way to start a riot is to speak out against co-bedding. I even know of a popular neonatologist blogger who is for it. Not me though(waiting for Mommy swat team to crash through my windows).
I'm all for anything that reduces SIDS yet sorry folks I'm the mother of 2 paci rejectors yes they both nurse and yes particularly for my daughter who stayed in the hospital for 3 weeks every time a nurse came she crammed the thing in her mouth. try finding out why your baby's crying to begin w. My big problem is I have friends who 21/2 yr old still uses it they are obsessed w it where abouts. Also had a friend whos daughter had to give it up for Kindergarden. If you must use it don't be a binky slave.
I agree on using the pacifier. My first child (now pregnant with my second)was breastfeed and I had to utilize a pacifier in order to have him sleep peacefully. He would fall asleep while nursing and as soon as I took him off he would wake up. So it is great to hear that it has a medical benefit.
What I find interesting is that the doctor says the a pacifier reduces SIDS perhaps because the sucking reminds the baby to breath. Breastfeeding babies also have a lower risk of SIDS perhaps for the same reason. If DEATH is the con of nonpacifier use, than it is also the con of formula feeding babies.
'Dummy' has nothing to do with the lower classes- it is a dummy becuase it's short for a 'dummy tit' ie false nipple
When should my 71/2 month old be able to put her pacifier in by herself at night? She wakes up multiple times during the night screaming until I put her pacifier in her mouth for her. I have tried handing it to her, keeping many in her crib, and showing her where it is, but nothing is working. Once I put the pacifier in her mouth, she goes back to sleep on her own.
ALL FOUR OF MY BABIES WERE NURSED AND THREE OF THE FOUR TOOK NUKS. ALL THAT TOOK NUKS ARE BOYS! THE NUKS NEVER MADE NURSING DIFFICULT. ALL I KNOW IS THAT THE NUKS GAVE THEM SOME COMFORT AND ME A WE BIT MORE SLEEP!!!
What ever happened to breastfeeding babies and allowing the babies to keep sucking until they were done sucking? Neither of my two ever used a pacifier OR sucked their thumbs!
I nursed my 2 year old for 12 months - she started using her "binky" before we took her home from the hospital. The nurses had asked if it was OK to give her one, and I agreed (to buy me a few more minutes of sleep). No one had ever mentioned it could pose a problem with nursing. It never did interfere with her nursing. I think it helped her accept the bottle of expressed milk that my husband gave to her every night. (bonding time for them, break for me) She didn't have the nipple confusion many bf babies seem to experience. I limited the paci use to nap and bedtime. (I can't stand seeing preschoolers walking around trying to talk with pacifiers) She still uses them, and I'm not sure how to wean her. She knows they are only for sleeping, and our rule is that she must take it out of her mouth to speak - so I'm not too worried yet, (she just turned 2) but I'd like to be done with them soon.
Who has the luxury of having time to let a bf baby suck until he's done sucking? My baby would've been latched on all day! Especially when it's not your first child... Also - the binky was offered when first putting baby to bed, after several nights of getting up to put it back in when it fell out of her mouth, we let her cry. It was hard for a few nights, but she learned how to fall back asleep without it.
the research that suggests babies with pacifiers are less likely to die from SIDS is sort of true, but if you look closer you'll find that the babies in the study were regular pacifier users but for some reason were without their pacifier the night they died. So if you use one then use it until you're definitely out of the sids danger zone i guess
my baby is 1 month and a week now at what age should i start to give him the pacifier?
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