what's everyone's opinion on using pacifiers?

PumpkinM2011

My MIL saw a baby the other day with a paci and she quickly turned to me and said "Don't ever use those", I just looked at her like umm ok ?.. I really don't see the problem with them but apprently alot of people have strong opinions on whether or not to use them so I would like to hear some pros and cons because I did put them on my registry. Thanks!

Marbear929

I personally hate them.  Having said that, just because I hated them doesn't mean we didn't use one with DD.  We did however take the paci away at 15 months.  There's nothing I hate more then seeing a toddler walking around with a paci in their mouth.

rkto

I have read a couple baby books and they both said "use a pacifier" especially when the baby is small.  It helps teach the baby to self soothe (well, they use the paci, but they dont use you)

One book said to try to get rid of the pacifier early but still to use it when the baby is less than 4-5 months. 

My bff didnt use a pacifier at first with her baby and one day (at about 1 month) her Mom suggested using one.  She said it changed her life. 

and a lot of the negative reviews are from dentists (or so people think) saying that pacifiers cause an overbite/problems in gum formation and this has been disproven 

(all according to my book) 

Ceridwen21

I've heard that (if you're BFing)  it's best to wait until about 6-8 weeks when your supply and routine are established before introducing them.

I'm registering for a few just to be safe but I'm hoping not to use them.  We'll see how it goes.

PumpkinM2011

I can't stand seeing them in a toddlers mouth either.  I am also a little worried about thumb sucking too because my mom never gave me and my siblings a paci and me and my sister sucked our thumbs until jr high! lol ...I know, so embarrassing! I thin for now I will keep them on the registry and If i feel the need to use them I will, who cares what MIL thinks right!? haha

yarnymommy

Personally, I've registered for them and plan on using it when we need it for our little guy.  I don't want us to get to the point that we rely on it or whatever, but I feel like if it soothes him and makes us less anxious, then it is well worth it.  

Temp574971250006741

I have no real opinion on paci's. DD never wanted one. If DS decides he wants one I am ok with it but I will try to have it gone before he is 1 1/2 as I too hate seeing toddlers walking around with them.

c_washington

i think that it is easy to judge when you aren't at home with the child.

There is good and bad to using or not using. I think be smart about it! If it helps get some peace and baby to learn to self sooth, fantastic. If baby has a speech impediment because they are talking around the paci... then perhaps it is time to stop.

I sucked my thumb until they put an expander in my mouth with a "cage" that blocked it. I think I was in late elementary or jr high school or so.

christiney06

Marbear929:

There's nothing I hate more then seeing a toddler walking around with a paci in their mouth.

I totally agree. I just don't get it after the age of one.  for the first year though, it's all about survival and if your baby will take one and it helps them to self soothe, then that's great.  i'd much rather my son had taken to one (he hated every kind we tried) instead of using me as his human pacifier.  babies love to suck, it's just the way it is and your MIL is delusional if she thinks not giving them one will make them want to stop that.  

ETA: also, they have been proven to be a big help in the early months in preventing SIDS.  

alison2379

I'd speak to a lactation consultant before beginning with them if you are going to be breastfeeding. They can interfere.

mabst196

I loved it. When nothing else consoled DD, the paci did. You just have to be dilligent about getting  them off it. DD was slightly over two when we got her off of it. I was planning on around her 2nd birthday, but she got sick and was in the hospital around that time and I just felt bad taking it away. If I had to do it over again, I would probably take it away around 18-24 months, but either way it was NBD to get her off of it. I just don't like seeing 3 and 4 yr olds with a paci without some sort of developmental delay or other good reason.

xtencornfield

DS would never take a paci, so we never had any issues with it. However, we plan on using it with #2 if he wants it. I think they are fine as long as you take them away at an appropriate age (I think over 2 is too long). For us, we'll likely ditch it by the time #2 reaches 1 yo.

MereB

I LOVE THEM!!!! I also don't really see what the big deal is, like you don't have enough to worry about.  So for me, pacifiers are at the bottom of the list for things to worry about.

I used the pacifier on my son from the day he was born, and I also breast fed.  He had no issues going back and forth, and I refused to let my nipples be a pacifier.  Yes, I'm sure there are a few babies out there that have "nipple confusion," but why should they put this fear in you from the beginning instead of letting you try it out and seeing if your baby has this problem?  I honestly don't know any babies that have had nipple confusion (and I worked in nurseries, baby sat for years, etc)- although I haven't met every baby in the world and I'm sure some have had it.

Also, they're recommended to prevent SIDS.

Now some of the PPs will be appalled that I let my son use his pacifier until 2, but when I asked my dentist, he said it was fine until age 2.  He transitioned well, and I don't really see why a 2 year old with a pacifier is so horrible.  I do think a 5 year old would look funny- but to each their own. 

Fianschneid

I feel like this is one of those things that is easy for me to say I will avoid now but will be much harder when LO is actually here. I'm not registering for them or buying them on my own and will try to discourage use but I've never been up at 4:45 with a newborn before. I guess only time will tell.

kagl04

We used one with DD and plan to use one with DS (as long as he takes it). It's easier to take that away then the thumb and my DD never sucked her thumb. We took it away at 9 months when she started waking 9-11 times a night for it. She never noticed and took it like a champ! This is our plan for DS too...

scarlettoctober

One of the books I am reading says that pacifiers can help reduce the risk of SIDS, but you should take it away early.  I'm thinking around 6 months.  If our LO wants to suck, I'd rather he suck on a paci instead of his thumb.  You can get rid of the paci, but you can't get rid of the thumb!

KathleenCB

I used them with both of my babies and they had no problem when I took them away after about 6 mos or so.  I had read that babies are comforted by the sucking motion and yes self soothing is nice:)  I also read that sucking on the paci helps with the development of the babies jaw.

txbabs111

We started using one with DD in the hospital. She was EBF and we never had issues going from breast to pacifier to bottle and back (of course, some babies do, but I just wanted to put it out there that it doesn't always cause problems). It was better for me to have her using a pacifier than comfort sucking on me all day. She gave it up voluntarily the week of her first birthday.

mrs.lizzieb

I'm pro-paci.  I used one with DS, and it was a very helpful tool.  Like pp have mentioned, it helps the baby to soothe and calm themselves down.  Before DS was born, I was going to try not to use one, but even our lacatation consultant recommended them once DS was born.  He had a very strong sucking reflex, and I wasn't about to let my boob be his soothing tool in between feedings.  When DS was about 10 months, we limited the paci to his crib and stroller, and then eventually to only his crib.  Around 18 months, we weened him completely off.  It wasn't a big deal.  Our dentist said it's not really an issue anyways until they're about 3.   

weddingbells2010

This LO is our first so I don't have my own personal experience yet, but having worked in daycare for a long time, including the infant care room, I can tell you that sometimes a pacifier is the only thing that works for some kids.  The jury is out on whether or not it affects how LO's teeth grow in, but I personally think that infants and young babies cannot be expected to self-soothe yet.  I expect to use them and hopefully ween off of them within the first year, as I don't really love toddlers who can talk, walk and feed themselves using a one.

shihtzu51

MereB:

I LOVE THEM!!!! I also don't really see what the big deal is, like you don't have enough to worry about.  So for me, pacifiers are at the bottom of the list for things to worry about.

I used the pacifier on my son from the day he was born, and I also breast fed.  He had no issues going back and forth, and I refused to let my nipples be a pacifier.  Yes, I'm sure there are a few babies out there that have "nipple confusion," but why should they put this fear in you from the beginning instead of letting you try it out and seeing if your baby has this problem?  I honestly don't know any babies that have had nipple confusion (and I worked in nurseries, baby sat for years, etc)- although I haven't met every baby in the world and I'm sure some have had it.

Also, they're recommended to prevent SIDS.

Now some of the PPs will be appalled that I let my son use his pacifier until 2, but when I asked my dentist, he said it was fine until age 2.  He transitioned well, and I don't really see why a 2 year old with a pacifier is so horrible.  I do think a 5 year old would look funny- but to each their own. 

I agree with this.  I didn't think we would really use pacifiers - but DS was definitely a sucker and needed it.  We had actually almost gotten rid of it at ~18 months, but then he had some biting issues at our old daycare - and their solution was to give him a pacifier all the time.  So we are now trying to wean it again - at our new daycare they are very good at only giving it for naps.  At home we are down to naps and car rides - unless he is sick and then we allow him to have it.   Our pediatrician and dentist said there really is no issue with it until after age 4.  His speech is fine, so they aren't concerned. 

For what it's worth, I would have said I would never let a 2 year old have a pacifier before I had DS - things change!

Hollygirl7

I think so much depends on the baby. Some just will not take a soother, and others really benefit from it. A PP said to wait until 6-8 weeks if you're BF'ing to introduce a paci, but my MW's were usually okay with it any time after 2 weeks. That being said, DS was reeeeeally fussy, so when he was 2 days old we gave it a try and he immediately knew what to do with it. My MW's were leary, but saw that his latch was great when feeding, so they didn't worry about it. I BF'ed until 1 year without one problem, DS still takes his soother at night, but otherwise doesn't have it during the day (I agree with other PP's, I don't like seeing a toddler walking around with a paci. The orthodontic ones might make it okay for their teeth, but all in all it's not good for their speech development.)

In the end, I think every baby/toddler winds up with some comfort crutch. For some it's their thumb, for others it's nursing, a particular teddy bear, a blanket, being swaddled, or, yes, using a soother. 

love_melongtime

PumpkinM2011:

My MIL saw a baby the other day with a paci and she quickly turned to me and said "Don't ever use those", I just looked at her like umm ok ?.. I really don't see the problem with them but apprently alot of people have strong opinions on whether or not to use them so I would like to hear some pros and cons because I did put them on my registry. Thanks!

This seriously annoys the hell out of me. I'm only 5.5 months pregnant and I'm already getting 'advice' like this from friends/family members. My opinion- do what you want! Make the parenting choices that are right for YOU, and everyone else can suck it

lyzi

i think they are okay to use, but only to go to sleep.  even from the beginning.  that way they do not become super dependant on them and can learn to occupy themselves during awake periods.  my son could never figure out how to keep one in his mouth so we never used one, only on trips then i just held it in his mouth so he could start to fall asleep and then let it fall out.