hardly used pacifiers

absmama

hi ladies, my daughter (who is about to turn 2) never caught on to using a pacifier.  i have a bag of them that have been in her mouth only a few times each and are practically new and undamaged.  they have probably been sitting in there for at least 18 months now.  do you think i can use them with the next baby if i boil and sterilize them well?  what would you do?

strawberrytree

I would be more worried about them sitting there for 18+ months than having been used before. I would see if I could score any free sample ones for this baby to see if he/she takes one before I go out and buy more. Sometimes the hospital will give you a free one, or you get one in the bag of free samples when you register at BRU. 

amhah09

I have mixed feelings on this. Technically they can wear down over time and serve as a safety hazard even if they weren't used much. We don't reuse pacifiers but I have reused bottle nipples and it's kind of the same concept.

*sparky*

I think this is one of those times I would err on the side of caution and throw out the old pacifiers and buy new ones. 

fireflygirl12

I would probably buy new ones. DS's bottles will only have been sitting unused for about 6 months by the time this LO gets here and I plan to get all new nipples.

WifeofaComposer

Basically, as these ladies have said, it's not a germ issue, it's the whole break-down concern. Pacifiers and bottle nipples weaken over time when exposed to the air. I would worry that sterilizing them now would weaken them further. Probably best to play it safe and just get a couple of new ones.

RebeccaY1

I would probably just get a few new ones since they really aren't that expensive.  I would only purchase one or two though so that you aren't wasting money on something that your new baby might not like anyway.

J&NL

I'm sure you could sanitize them but I would rather just get new ones. Who knows what's been festering on them for two years.

absmama

thanks ladies.  i figured so much but thought i'd see what you all had to say since i'm not well versed in pacifiers/bottle nipples since my first refused both!

LEIGHLOVE09

Hmm well I have the same issue. DD barely ever took pacifier. I was planning on reusing hers. I'm not buying more if this one won't take them as well.

Cecilbear

I did not know any of this. So glad you guys brought it up, as I was planning on using the same bottles my sister used for her son last year. 

pdilly2b

LEIGHLOVE09 said:

Hmm well I have the same issue. DD barely ever took pacifier. I was planning on reusing hers. I'm not buying more if this one won't take them as well.

This for me too.

AcaAwkward

I have the same issue (and same with bottles - DD hardly used them at all), but I'm not really willing to risk exposure to broken down plastic (due to time, not use). I plan on buying 2-3 new ones (different kinds) instead of reusing. They're like $2-5 each so it's not like it's a big investment if this new little guy hates them too. Also replacing the bottle nipples (bot not bottles themselves).