6 Tips to Prevent The Risk of Using Pacifier

 

Pacifiers have both benefits and risks for your baby's health. If you decide to give your baby a pacifier, follow these tips to prevent the risk:

1.      1.  Pacifiers should not be used as the first line of defense.

A change of position or a rocking session can sometimes help to calm a crying baby. Only give your baby a pacifier after or between feedings.

2. Select a one-piece, dishwasher-safe option. Pacifiers with two pieces can become a choking hazard if they break.
3. Allow your baby to set the pace. Don't force the pacifier on your baby if he or she isn't interested.

4.               4. Maintain a clean environment. Boil pacifiers or run them through the dishwasher on a regular basis until your baby is 6 months old and his or her immune system has matured. Pacifiers should be washed with soap and water after 6 months. Resist the urge to "rinse" the pacifier in your mouth. You'll just end up spreading more germs to your baby.

5.      5. Don't sugarcoat anything. Don't put anything sweet on the pacifier.

6.       6. Keep it secure. Pacifiers should be replaced on a regular basis and in the appropriate size for your baby's age. Keep an eye out for signs of deterioration. Pacifier clips should also be used with caution. Never tie a pacifier to a string or strap that is long enough to become entangled around your baby's neck.

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Mom Should Know! Here are Risks of Pacifiers

 Pacifiers were historically considered beneficial until the early 1900s when an anti-pacifier movement spread fears that their use led to poor hygiene and indulgent behavior. According to scientific research, here are the risks of pacifiers:

1.      Your baby may become dependent on the pacifier.

If your baby sleeps with a pacifier, you may experience middle-of-the-night crying spells if the pacifier falls out of your baby's mouth.

2.      Pacifier use may increase your baby's risk of middle ear infections.

However, rates of middle ear infections are generally lowest between the ages of birth and 6 months, when the risk of SIDS is highest and your baby may be most interested in a pacifier.

3.      Prolonged pacifier use may result in dental issues.

Normal pacifier use in the first few years of life does not usually result in long-term dental problems. However, using a pacifier for an extended period of time may cause a child's teeth to become misaligned.

4.      Using a pacifier may interfere with breastfeeding.

If you're breastfeeding, you might wait until your baby is 3 to 4 weeks old and you've established a nursing routine before offering a pacifier. A study of unrestricted pacifier use in healthy, full-term infants found that it had no effect on breastfeeding continuation.

As a good mother you should consider the risks of a pacifier before using it for your baby

 

5 Benefit of Pacifiers for Your Baby

 

Nonnutritive sucking is a natural reflex for a fetus and newborn, and it is most commonly manifested by sucking the hands and fingers. The pacifier, also known as a "dummy," has long been used to satisfy this innate desire.

Pacifiers are the key to contentment for some babies in between feedings. Here are the  benefit of pacifiers:

1. A pacifier can help a fussy baby relax. Some babies enjoy sucking on something the most.
2. A pacifier serves as a temporary distraction. A pacifier may be helpful before and after shots, blood tests, or other procedures.
3. A pacifier may assist your baby in falling asleep. If your baby has trouble falling asleep, a pacifier may help.
4. A pacifier may alleviate flight discomfort. Babies cannot "pop" their ears by swallowing or yawning to relieve ear pain caused by changes in air pressure. Sucking on a pacifier may be beneficial.
5. A pacifier may help reduce the risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Sucking on a pacifier during naps and at bedtime may reduce the risk of SIDS. Pacifiers are discarded. When it's time to stop using pacifiers, you can throw them away. If your child prefers to suck on his or her thumb or fingers, breaking the habit may be more difficult.

Aside from their benefits, using pacifier have several risks for babies. In the next article, We will analyze the risk of pacifiers.