When to introduce and stop a pacifier? Everything a mom should know about pacifiers

Christian W. Meinecke is the first person who invented the pacifier. If anyone does not know about the pacifier, then let me tell you that pacifier is a tool that provides comfort to a baby by suckling on an artificial nipple when they are not hungry or full or too full to eat. Pacifiers can be lifesaving for parents in the early months after birth during the moments of crying when any other thing fails to soothe the fussy baby.

Parts of Pacifier

A pacifier manufacturer produces pacifiers consisting of three parts A nipple, a safety shield to prevent choking hazards, and a ring to hold the pacifier. The nipple is usually made of either latex or silicon. 

Silicon nipple is sturdier and dishwasher & microwave safe as compared to latex nipple and does not retain odor. However, some babies prefer latex nipples because they are more soft and flexible. 

Types of Pacifier

Rounded nipple pacifiers

These are traditional pacifiers with a rounded nipple-like small tomato shape. The pacifier consists of three basic parts; nipple, shield, and ring.

Orthodontic nipple pacifiers

The nipple comes in a flat shape at the bottom and is round on the top to intimate the mother’s nipple. These pacifiers are recommended because they interfere less with baby oral development. 

One-Piece Pacifier

These are the pacifiers made of a single piece; plastic, silicone, rubber, or latex. There is no choking hazard of a single-piece pacifier. But they break or crack easily. 

Stuffed Animal Pacifier

A traditional pacifier is attached with a stuffed animal to attack the baby with different shapes and vibrant colors. You can wash these stuffed toys easily. 

Novelty Pacifier

For special occasions like Halloween, Christmas, or birthdays, the decorative or embellished pacifiers come in different colors, shapes, and designs. They look cute and fun to use occasionally. 

Feeding Pacifier

Fruit feeders or feeding pacifiers are great to introduce new flavors of food. You can give boiled vegetables or frozen fruits according to the weather and preference of your baby. 

Glow in the Dark Pacifier

These are pacifiers made of a material that glows in the dark. It is so to mother or baby finds it easily at night. 

When to introduce a pacifier?

Sucking is a natural reflex in newborn babies. If you plan to breastfeed your baby, then do not introduce the pacifier for at least one month. Develop a strong bond and feeding routine with your baby. Some people think that it may confuse the baby for mother’s nipple and pacifier nipple. But it is just a myth. Suckling on both are totally different and use different muscles of the mouth. The baby needs to exercise breastfeed and use all the mouth muscles for the first month. If you introduce the pacifier early, it may weaken the mouth muscles because the baby feels more comfort in using a pacifier than a mother’s nipple. The baby may lose interest in breastfeeding and fall asleep with a pacifier. 

How to Use a Pacifier? 

Hygiene is most important when it comes to baby things. Always wash the pacifier before giving it to your baby. One-piece baby pacifiers are safest. Boil the nipple part thrice a week. Most parents prefer to attach a string with a pacifier to save it from falling. But it is not safe because babies can get tangled in a string or may fall or get injured. It is also not recommended to dip a nipple in sugar, honey, or corn syrup. Instead, use a food pacifier. 

Should I remove the pacifier when the baby is sleeping?

There is no big reason to remove the pacifier during sleep. Several medical studies are in favor of sucking on a pacifier during sleep because they reduce the risk of SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). When babies do not cry, having a pacifier in their mouth helps them fall asleep for a longer time. A mother can also take nap during this peaceful period of the day. 

Pacifier Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

When to stop the pacifier? 

According to the American Dental Association babies should stop using a pacifier at the age of 36 months to avoid teeth deformation. 

Pacifier Buying Guide

Babies are unpredictable, some like certain texture or material or some don’t bother and take any type of pacifier easily. So test and trial is the key to find your baby’s best pacifier. If you are planning to buy a pacifier for the first time then there are many factors you need to know about. First of all size of the pacifier matters. It comes in 3 sizes.

The shape also matters. Orthodontic or round both are safe. You can buy both and continue with one type according to your baby’s preference. Before buying make sure pacis should be made of BPA-free material. Usually, silicone pacifiers are BPA-free and less prone to germs. If a nipple gets cracked or hole, it is time to replace the nipple and grab a new one. Moreover changing color or residue buildup also indicates that you have to change the pacifier. Pacifiers with holes on a shield are necessary to make your baby’s breathing easy. These holes also prevent saliva buildup and make suckling comfortable for babies. 

Is it affordable enough to buy in bulk?

A pacifier is not an expensive item. If you want to know how much is a pacifier then let me let you that the retail price of a pacifier starts from $5 and may increase up to $25 depending upon design, material, and embellishment. But if you buy it from a wholesale pacifiers provider you can save some big bucks. Just discover your baby preference and buy in bulk and stock up for future use up to 2 years.