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WHAT IS A PACIFIER ???
A pacifier is a rubber, plastic, or silicone nipple substitute given to an infant to suckle upon between feedings to quiet its distress by satisfying the need to suck when it does not need to eat. Pacifiers normally have three parts: an elongated teat, a handle, and a mouth shield that prevents the child from swallowing or choking on it.
Babies have a natural ability to suck, even if they are not pacified, young babies will suck their hands, thumbs, or fingers, this gives them satisfaction and sucking is important in providing this satisfaction.
• When to start or to stop ???
• TO START
One of the most common concerns for introducing pacifier use is whether it’ll interfere with breastfeeding. The way a baby sucks on a breast is different from the way he sucks on an artificial nipple. Even in best-case scenarios, early breastfeeding is really hard for the first couple of weeks, It’s probably a good idea to wait to introduce the pacifier [until] mom’s milk supply is well established and baby is easy and comfortable on the breast, usually between two and eight weeks.” That said, some moms have introduced pacifier use as early as 10 days without marring the breastfeeding experience. If the baby is bottle-fed from the start, you can give him the pacifier right away, since the nipple on the bottle is so similar.
• TO STOP
Sometimes babies decide they’re done with pacifiers and just stop pacifier use on their own. If that happens, consider yourself one very lucky mom! Otherwise, there will come a time when you will have to do the dirty job of taking it away by starting to wean around 6 months to a year. Ideally, for dental development, you want to try to say bye-bye to binky permanently by your child’s second birthday. “Baby will cry for a little while, but after a couple of days, he’ll adjust and figure out another way to self-soothe,
• PROS AND CONS
The decision to use a pacifier — or not — is up to you. Consider the pros and cons of giving your baby a pacifier, and how to help him or her break the habit.
• PACIFIER PROS
Aside from soothing the baby and reducing crying, here are a few more reasons why pacifier use is so popular with parents:
• SATISFACTIONS
As mentioned earlier, babies have a habit of sucking. Some children have this habit before birth. This gives them satisfaction. A pacifier is very useful in this case.
• REDUCES THE RISK OF SIDS
SIDS is the leading cause of death in babies under one year of age. Studies have shown that using a pacifier reduces the risk of SIDS during sleep. This will not only help your baby but also give you some peace of mind at night knowing that your baby is safer while sleeping.
• USEFUL IN DISTRACTION
Sometimes children become very irritable. It often happens that whenever you are busy, the child gets hungry. So pacifier is the easiest solution. Through this, you can distract the child for some time.
• RESTFUL SLEEP
Sucking is very beneficial in making the baby sleep well. This makes the baby sleep comfortably and deeply. The chances of waking up from fear at night are also reduced. Because sucking makes the child feel close to the mother.
• SOOTHING CRYING BABY
It is also helpful in quieting your crying baby. But use it as a last resort. That is, take the baby in your lap, rock it, and give it a lullaby, even if the baby does not stop crying. So give him a pacifier and he will stop crying. But don't let him get into the habit of sucking only when I cry.
• PACIFIERS CONS
1- Babies who are breastfed may not be able to distinguish between sucking and latching in the early days, and their ability to suckle may be affected.
2- Children who are addicted to sucking can be silenced by sucking even if they are hungry, in such a case there is a fear of the child staying hungry for longer than necessary. And it can also make them suffer from malnutrition
3- If the pacifier is not clean, it can become a source of germs and make the baby sick.
4- Excessive use of pacifiers can lead to ear infections.
5- A pacifier can get old and break over time or an older child can bite it, and the plastic can get stuck in a child's throat, which is a dangerous object in its own right.
6- If the baby is used to a pacifier during teething age, a pacifier can cause crooked teeth.
• PRECAUTIONS
Considering these pros and cons, we suggest that babies can be given a pacifier but keep a few precautions in mind.
1- Do not breastfeed immediately after birth, especially breastfed babies who should not be pacified for the first month. When the baby is fully capable of drinking milk, then a pacifier can be introduced.
2- A pacifier should never be given when hungry, nor should it be given to replace or delay feeding. Breastfeeding should be given only when the baby's stomach is full.
3- If the baby does not suck, do not force it.
4- Never tie a pacifier to a baby's neck, hand, or bed, this is a dangerous practice, and it can cause the baby to choke.
5- While buying a pacifier, make sure that the end of the pacifier that will be in the baby's mouth is soft so that the baby's gums are not injured and the other part is hard and big enough to always stay out of the mouth so that the baby does not swallow despite efforts. Could not swallow the nipple.
6- Also, when buying a pacifier, keep in mind that it can be washed and sterilized with hot water and that hot water should be removed from the pacifier before giving it to the baby to avoid burning the baby's mouth.
7- Wash the pacifier regularly.
8- Never use a feeder nipple as a substitute for a pacifier because it does not have hard plastic on the other end and the baby could swallow it, which could become a choking hazard.
9- If you want to give your baby a pacifier, buy more than one pacifier so that if one gets dirty, you can have a second or third clean one.
10- Pacifiers have a limited shelf life and should be checked at the time of purchase and replaced before or if the pacifier breaks or discolors, it should be replaced immediately.
If you feel that you can follow all these suggestions, then you can pacify your baby if needed.