It's a debatable topic among parents and researchers alike, but the American Academy of Pediatrics comes down in favor of pacifier use for infants. In fact, the organization encourages parents to offer pacifiers to breastfed babies once they've turned 1 month old. Still, despite some significant advantages, pacifier use does have the potential to negatively impact health. Caregivers should talk with their child's doctor about the pros and cons of this popular device.
Provides Comfort
The primary reason parents give their babies pacifiers is to provide them with comfort. Infants have an innate desire to suck; this action is important for their ability to consume their food. Sucking is also a soothing behavior to babies; in fact, some suck on their fingers or thumbs while they are still in the womb. For infants who take to pacifiers, the device helps reduce irritability and encourages them to sleep. Pacifiers function as a form of detraction as well, which could prove useful during stressful events.
SIDS Link
Sudden infant death syndrome, or SIDS for short, is the unexplained death of a baby under a year old. Although these sudden deaths can occur anytime during infancy, 90 percent of cases happen in babies' first six months, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Pacifier use during sleep time is linked to lower risk for SIDS, although this association is not fully understood. One theory is that babies using pacifiers do not sleep as deeply, which allows them to move out of unsafe positions. It's also possible that the activity keeps the airway more open during sleep.
Effect on Breastfeeding
One drawback to using pacifiers is that they may interfere with establishing breastfeeding habits, particularly if they are given to babies soon after birth. A March 1999 "Pediatrics" study found that mothers breastfed their babies less often if babies were given a pacifier at ages 6 weeks or under. Still, later research findings suggest that the negative impact pacifier use has on breastfeeding may not be so clear. A March 2011 article in the "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews" found that early pacifier use was not significantly associated with frequency or duration of breastfeeding.
Health Concerns
Children who suck on pacifiers could potentially be at higher risk for both ear infections and dental problems. Young children who use pacifiers were found to have double the occurrence of chronic ear infections in comparison to kids who didn't use them, according to a June 2008 study in "Family Practice." The theory is that using the pacifier increases the risk for germs to infect the middle ear. Long-term pacifier use is also linked to dental issues, particularly if kids persist in sucking on them even as they move out of the toddler phase. The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry cautions that it could affect the top front teeth in addition to causing jaw problems.
References
- "Paediatrics & Child Health"; Pacifiers (Soothers): A User's Guide for Parents; Candian Paediatric Society; October 2003
- Mayo Clinic; Pacifiers: Are They Good for Your Baby?; August 2009
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Sudden Infant Death Syndrome
- "Pediatrics";The Effects of Early Pacifier Use on Breastfeeding Duration; CR Howard, et al.; March 1999
- "Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews"; Pacifier Use versus No Pacifier Use in Breastfeeding Term Infants for Increased Duration of Breastfeeding; SH Jaafar, et al.; March 2011
- BabyCenter; Parents Warned on Pacifier Link to Ear Infections; Susan Markel, M.D.; June 2008
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