Q: Pacifier pro and con?

Posted Thursday, March 15, 2007 3:00 PM

Q: I've heard a hundred different opinions-- pacifiers, yes or no?

A: Forget politics! Once you're a parent, pacifiers are a far more intense topic of discussion. Here are the pros and cons, spelled out by the American Academy of Pediatrics.

 
Pro

[  ] Babies love to suck -- a pacifier can soothe a fusspot or help a night-waker fall back to sleep on his own.

[  ] Pacifiers provide distraction, buying you time to make a bottle or finish a phone call before nursing. A pacifier can also work wonders while baby's getting shots.

[  ] Research links bedtime pacifier use with a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).

[  ] The pacifier habit is much easier to break than thumbsucking- simply throw away those binkies when it's time.

 
Con

[  ] Starting baby with a pacifier too early may interfere with breastfeeding, because sucking a nipple requires a different technique than sucking a pacifier (or bottle). The AAP recommends waiting a month before giving a baby a pacifier, which will help him learn to nurse first.

[  ] If baby uses the pacifier at night, you might experience some loud pre-dawn protests when it falls out of his mouth and he can't find it.

[  ] Using a pacifier may increase the incidence of ear infections. Keep in mind, though, that middle ear infection rates are lowest during the first six months- when the risk of SIDS is highest. The trade off might be worth it.

Ultimately, the choice is yours -- and baby's. Wait a month after delivery to establish a solid feeding routine, then try a pacifier if you'd like. If baby takes to it, great; if not, toss it.