Why are people against pacifiers?

Laura Cochran

Maybe I just haven't read up enough on them but I've seen a lot of post about people being against the use of pacifiers. Why? I thought they were supposed to help prevent SIDS (along with lots of other things).Can some one enlighten me on the controversy?

I hope my LO will take a pacifier and not want to use me as a pacifier. 

 

I'm not trying to start a debate, just truly wondering why I wouldn't want to use one.

daisydana

Personally, I don't like them.  I don't think they are necessary a lot of the time.  I especially dislike when I see an "older" child with one.  

That being said, I do have one on my registry.  A 0-3 month orthodontic one.  To help with breast feeding, I hope.  Just so they get the sucking thing down.

I have almost zero experience with babies though.  Maybe I'll change my opinion after the baby is born!

ShannonLK

Is it just because people think they are hard to take away?

I will use a pacifier. 

leffe1

It seems like there can be opinions on just about anything :-)

I will use a pacifier. I am interested in hearing the other side as well.

pahokie

I'm not opposed, I was just concerned that we would become dependent on them.  We used it when she seemed to want some comfort sucking, especially to help transition between feeding and sleeping.  Dependency may not be an issue for us, because she has already moved on to eschewing the paci in favor of sucking on her hand/fingers.  Now I worry about her being a thumb sucker.

ecu1995

Well....after two children with pacifiers...I tell all my friends not to use them or if they do, make sure they take them away before they are a year old.  My oldest had his until he was almost 3 (only at bedtime) and still puts everything in his mouth....and he is 9!!  He bites his fingernails, always has the end of a pencil in his mouth etc....I blame myself for letting him use the pacifier for so long.

My little girl had hers until she was about 2 (only at bedtime) and she was much easier to break.  We told them they were yucky and we had to throw them away.

Will I take my own advice this time around?  Who knows...I honestly think it depends on the child and if the sucking comforts them...

Worcbride

Until I had DD I didn't like them but when it's 3am and the baby was using me as a human pacifier which was causing bleeding and all sorts of unpleasantness, I gave in--it was the best decision.  Babies need to suck (DD had latch issues too so I think the paci helped some).  It is also true that they reduce the SIDS risk.  I'll be using them again w/this LO.

Claire9s

Aside from hearing that if given too soon, the baby will suck differently and be confused when you are trying to breastfeed because the types of sucking are very different from one another. A relative of mine is now desperately trying to get the pacifiers away from her twins because  the doctors think it may be the pacifiers that are keeping them from learning/trying to talk...

&&

from what I learned in my breastfeeding class, they said it can cause "nipple confusion" and make it more difficult to breastfeed.  I really don't know, this is our first, but right now, we are going to stick strictly to the breast until that is going well...... (the instructor said at about 4-6 weeks it should be okay to introduce a paci)

at the hosp where we are delivering, they actually have signs that the nurses hang in the bassinets that say "NO pacifier, NO bottle" so all the nurses know not to give the baby one...

who knows

MRSDNA

I just wanted to throw my .02 cents into the ring.  I breastfed for 15 months and used the paci for approx 11 months.  No nipple confusion, DS did have a preference for certain shaped pacis/nipples though.  He did have to use a bottle for the BM that I pumped as well.  I am a dietitian and have worked for WIC for a few years and remembered the "nipple confusion" arguement, but having done some of my own research I didn't find that it held any truth.  Babies are born with the NEED to suck, whether it's on mom or a paci.  I also did read the research on SIDS and pacis and would agree with it's benefits there as well.  With that being said, I would recommend to stop the paci before a year though, this is from seeing my own friends have trouble ditching it after that time.  Again, this is just my opinion   HTH.

kate&patrick

I think you can have an argument about anything!  My oldest had one, which we took away right after his 3rd birthday.  He had no problem breaking from it. 

My second child would never take one.  She is now 5 and a half and I wish I could cut her thumb off!  She still sucks it when she falls asleep.

My third gave his up on his own at about 9 months.  No problems and no security issues at this point (he is 2.5).

All three of mine breastfed without any problems.  No nipple confusion.

I will offer one to #4, but not sweat it.  I will probably wait until they are a few weeks old.   Good Luck!

daisydana

This is why I like this board.  We can have a discussion about something instead of a debate that gets nasty. I learn a lot just by seeing other people's opinions and especially hearing from the "outside" moms about their experiences.  Great thread.

 

Laura Cochran

I agree, Dana. That's why I posted it over here. So that I could have a conversation about it not an argument.  I think that we will still attempt the pacifier. I don't have a problem with toddlers with binkies and if it is something that will sooth and comfort her, I want her to have that. 

Thanks to everyone for their input. 

lgndangel

I like the idea of trying to wean them off it at one.  I think that I might take that approach when the time comes.  I know that my mom had a hard time getting my brother to get rid of his paci and I think he was 3-4.

I never heard about the nipple confusion but I can totally see that. 

benoitfan

Don't take this the wrong way, but I think some people are against the paci because they don't want to have to take a stand to remove it from little one's possession when they should no longer be using it.  Paci's for newborns help to reduce the risk of sids.  We will be using them.  I do not intend on having my child continue to use a paci when they can walk and talk and find other means of comfort.  I realize it may be difficult to wean my son from the paci, but I don't intend on just sticking one is his mouth everytime he makes a peep, so hopefully he won't be too reliant on them for comfort and we will be able to take it from him before it becomes a problem.

RaeAnt

My issue with it has been from what I've seen of others. That rather than seeing why the child is upset...hunger...hurt...tired..etc, they just jam a pacifier in their mouth. When they don't wasnt to deal with the child, they use it. Of course I've also seen that same thing done with food. Shove a cookie in the their hand or something like that. God forbid the child be whiny when the parent is trying to hold a conversation.

I'm not saying I won't use one, but both DH and I are in the wait and see camp. If there are other ways to calm LO or keep him happy, we'd rather not use a pacifier.

mommy_bear

I love binkies!! I don't like to see a 3 yr old with one but I think they are wonderful. My DD used one until she was about 10 months old and then got her first cold. Due to congestion, she couldn't breathe with the binky in her mouth so the binky disappeared at that time and was never missed.

My DS had colic and never took a binky. I would have given an organ for him to take one. He was miserable and never happy and cried constantly.

Here's hoping #3 will love the pacifier!

Brosis

kdbennett:

I love binkies!! 

LOL!  That's what we call them too!  I've heard that long term use can cause orthodontic issues, and that they shouldn't be used over 1 year.

I'm planning to BF, but will check with our lactation consultant to see if there is a specific type of pacifier (& bottle nipple) that won't cause any "nipple confusion". 

Thanks for a great post, Lebraly! 

RaeAnt

Binkie? I know that as a nickname for a blanket/blankie.

funchicken

I've read that they can increase the incidence of ear infections (though DD has only had 3 ear infections since she was born, so I don't think it did for us).  She still uses one at naptime and bedtime--she's really attached to them.  I'm aiming to wean her off of it when she turns 2.  We'll see how that goes