Pacifiers- yay, nay, and why?

CMDD

It's too early to talk about this but I don't care. I know the benefits and problems associated with pacifier use, I'm wondering what you think. Will you use them? Why? Why not?

holly1811

They are a god send in early months. But an absolute nightmare to get rid of if your child gets to attached to one.

koala1107

I'm in the yes to pacifiers category (assuming the baby takes to it). I probably would wait a month or so to ensure a good latch for breastfeeding first. My reasoning is that it can help reduce the risk of sids while sleeping and that while it might be tough weaning them if they get attached, it's still easier to take away an object than have them get attached to thumb sucking where it's nearly impossible to take that away. But then again, I'm a first time mom so reserve the right to change my mind based off what works this time around!

yl1m32015

I never took a pacifier as a baby, but dh used one practically until kindergarten...smh...so I do plan to purchase one or two and try it for soothing, but I do worry about the possible issues.

Bobbiel06

Both my first two had one. And plan on new baby having one. It's great to keep them occupied in between feedings or if you are in the middle of something and just need a few more mins before feeding.

krisdawson37

Personally, I sucked my thumb until I was 10 and I always said I would never let my kids have them. When the girls were born I told the nurses not to use them and if I found one in their incubator I would take it out immediately when I got there. My kids were off the bottle by 6 or 8 months (can't believe I don't remember exactly now!) and never sucked their thumbs. I am a firm believer in teaching kids other ways to cope with emotions/sleep than by suckling. I also don't believe in attachment parenting and I've been called ridiculous for my beliefs. I see the difference in my kids compared to how I aced as a child and compared to how their friends act (those that suck their thumb and those who were given pacifiers for a long time)

Blake&Blair

My DD took one and she loved it. Around 2 we just cut a hole in it so it wouldnt work and she did fine without it. My son wouldnt take one.

Marchmellow2

Yes to binkies!! My favorite are the MAM ones.

Bobbiel06

My daughter went to sleep one night with out her's so hubs and I went through the whole house and threw them away and she asked for them once the next day. We told her they were gone and she was ok with that. My son was 2 and we cut the tips off and he threw them away and he was good.

krisdawson37

koala1107 said:

 while it might be tough weaning them if they get attached, it's still easier to take away an object than have them get attached to thumb sucking where it's nearly impossible to take that away. 

The only problem I see with this statement (not the thought behind it) is that allowing them to suckle for comfort encourages them to suck their thumb when they lose the pacifier. Every parent makes their own choices and neither is right or wrong, it's your choice! I was told by a friend that I was mean for not allowing my child to have a pacifier. 

geneise19

My too kids used them just make sure you dont wait too late to take it away

Knottie14066766

Studies have shown pacifiers reduce the risks of SIDS. I took my daughters away at two. At one , I only let her have it at night and once she turned two, it was gone for good. Sure she asked for it, but we all go through life having to break a bad habit from time to time. She got over it in a day or so.

redfallon

We didn't want to use one with DD, but it was the only thing that got her to sleep those first few nights. She'd only use the Soothies. She weaned herself from it by around 6 mos when she looked at them as more of a toy.

She didn't get any nipple confusion and she used breast, bottle, and pacifier interchangeably without issue.

amw2133

I'm yes mainly for the SIDS aspect.

imotots

I will not. I did not use them with my first either as I had a history of chronic ear infections when I was a kid and they have been linked to increased rates of middle ear infections. Given my history, I did not want to risk it. But I think it is generally only a problem with more excessive use. https://www.m.webmd.com/cold-and-flu/news/20000911/continuous-pacifier-use-linked-to-ear-infections

313Meg

DS still uses one. I will absolutely use them for this one. When they need a little soothing, it worked wonders. Still the only thing he's "attached" to. (doesn't have a lovey, blanket, or toy that he NEEDS. Just the pacis)
I have much bigger fish to fry than worry about taking it away. When the time is right, I will reduce the use of them for bed. (naps and night)
But that's a ways away.

twetyaries

When I had my son, I was totally against using any type of pacifier. I was worried about my son getting attached. When he was about 2 months, he was so fussy and couldn't get him to go to sleep. Nothing would work to soothe him. So we gave him a pacifier that we got from our baby shower and it worked miracles. We only let him have it till he was maybe six months and that was it. He never missed it. I will definitely have a few on hand for this one but only if needed. I love the Avent soothies!

LinMmmm

I am not against them but with my first I did not use them early on because I was so focused on getting a proper latch and introducing a bottle too in preparation for returning to work. By the time I gave him one he would spit the paci right out. He never liked them. I still have a them so we'll have to wait and see what happens this time around.

AlejandraN2

I used it with my DD and I plan on using it with this baby if he/she takes it. In addition to the research that PPs quoted on SIDS, it's also a great mechanism for teaching baby to self soothe at the beginning and always recommended in the NICU. My 21 month old still uses it for naps and bed time (and the occasional 9 hour flight). I plan on taking it away at 2 years old. I talked to her pediatrician about it, and it's really a problem when the use of it is excessive - like having it on all day. Taking the teeth issue aside, it can actually delay speech when used all through the day.

With that said, I hope my next baby takes it too. It's been a life saving tool for us

BostonBaby1

I sucked my thumb from the second I came out and not only did I turn out fine, but my teeth are very straight and I never had braces. I think self-soothing is fine & so is a pacifier. I don't mean to toot my own horn, but consensus is that it was pretty adorable I would suck my thumb all the time. But then again, my mother always had me in pigtails. I also had a blanket.

Judge away. Lol!

littleSkittle14

Didn't last time. Thinking I will next time if the baby is a "crier" like my last one! It really is grating!

domsmom52714

My son has never taken one but we still keep one around and plan on having one for the new baby as well

arichlife

DD LOVES hers but she is actually gray about them. She is currently 14 months and typically only gets to have a binky when she sleeps. If she finds one laying around she uses it but after naps and in the morning I can ask her for it and she will give it to me and let me put it away. It's great because it soothes her. Why refuse a baby a soothing mechanism?

Edited to add:
I also sucked my fingers for a long time and I had really straight teeth and never had braces.

groovylocks

Maybe in the first month or so. After that, no.

chewie5990

My sister in law is a certified SIDS trainer and she told me that its recommended for baby's 6 months and younger to use pacifier when napping and sleeping for SIDS prevention. I'm
not sure of the reasoning...but this post just reminded me to check further into that and ask her why or research more on the issue. I had never heard it before she mentioned it

CMDD

@chewie5990 let me know when you learn more! i'd love to hear about it.

Jess0813

I read the reason they reduce SIDS is because babies sleep less soundly with a pacifier since they are sucking. My 1st didnt use one until he started teething (his choice) and still only used it for naps and bedtime. My 2nd used one as a baby alot and after he hit 6m started only wanting it to sleep.

MegStark

I put no because there wasn't an option other than yes or no. I really don't mind them with babies and I'm aware they can reduce SIDS risk, but DD never took one and I ended up being very happy about it after seeing other parents trying to ween from it. If baby 2 is fussy and a paci works, we'll use one. I don't really mind either way.

katy4128

Yes to pacies! My theory..you can take away a pacie but not a thumb! DS is 14 months and just has his when he sleeps.

BostonBaby1

Sometimes babies suck their thumbs in utero. What are you going to do?

* edited to add that that was a rhetorical question.

brown214

We used one with our first and will this time too. We started from an early age only allowing it during naps and bed and when fussing but would try to remove it as soon as possible once he was calmed down. He will be 2 in August and only uses it for naps and bed time. On the video monitor I rarely see him with it when sleeping so we will remove it eventually but I think he will outgrow it on his own. We use the wabanub kind and he enjoys playing with the tag too. I think he might use that for soothing just as much.

kanda0820

It's easier to take away a pacifier then a thumb. Our son starting sucking on his thumb when we didn't initially give him a pacifier.

Melissadmag

Nope, they are unsanitary, encourage oral fixation, can cause the baby to develop crooked teeth, make them gassier/colicky from swallowing air, and can be a huge pain to get rid of once the baby is attached to it. They are unnecessary in general and there are plenty of other things I can do to help comfort or sooth my baby. I am not anti other parents using them, but my kid wont be getting one. Only one of my siblings ever used one and that was a nightmare. No thank you. 

chelseymmcghee

I'm planning on using one but refuse to give the baby one until he gets the hand of breast feeding and latching well. With my nephew it was nearly two weeks before he got his first paci for this same reason.

babygirlm181

I gave my daughter one helped her learn how to grip a bottle better I took her off the pacifier at about 9 months I had no problems at all she is now 3 she has never sucked her thumb I voted yes ....plus she was a colt baby so it helped her alot everyone has there own opinion

Mizuiro007

My son really made me a believer in pacifiers. He was a difficult delivery (shoulder dystocia) and desperately needed to soothe. Without the pacifier he just wanted to nurse constantly and was overfeeding. Every doctor we saw with him supported and even strongly suggested our use of pacifiers.

I worried about weaning but he's doing it a lot on his own but I've also worked hard with him on teaching him other ways to self soothe.

Another reason I'm for pacifiers- when I was pregnant with my son, I heard of a baby related to someone I know that nearly bit two of her fingers off. They had to do surgery and keep her hand in casts until it was completely healed. It freaked me out so much, especially with those hormones raging, I decided against encouraging him to suck his thumb. That and I'd rather and orthotic nipple than his thumb. Plus decreased SIDS risk with the pacifier.

Yes, there's an increased risk of ear infections with pacifier use after 6 months but you can wean before that.

courtney198078

I used pacifiers with my first 2 and definately will this time. I think they definately help with soothing and when I was in the hospital with both my others the pediatrician actually gave them a pacifier right away so obviously they thought they were beneficial.

4puddleducks

We chose to use the pacifiers from the hospital with our son. He was a preemie and we needed to soothe him quickly, so he wasn't expending his energy crying. He used it at nap and bed times. At 6 months, he self-weaned. We will use a pacifier if this baby takes one, but it will not be a long term solution.

Like all other parenting choices, I truly believe that each family needs to do what works for them.

CMDD

Thanks everyone! I thought there would be much more naysayers and I learned some things too!

dp1320

I tried to get DS to take one but he never did ... one less thing to have to wean from I suppose. I'll offer to the next baby as well though.

rain0831boww

I plan on it. All my friends and family say it's a life saver. My mom recently told me when she wanted me to stop because I was getting too old for it, she put a small amount of mustard on it so I wouldn't want it anymore.