42: When Should I Introduce the Pacifier?
A question that I am often asked is, “Should I or shouldn’t I give my baby a pacifier”. Many lost hours have been spent stressing over this decision and I am here to tell you that you are wasting your precious time agonizing over this question. Instead, do what you like. Pacifier or no pacifier. It’s just a soothing tool, like many others. But if you do choose to offer your baby a pacifier, then I recommend you use it responsibly.
Today we will discuss who especially benefits from pacifiers, types of pacifiers, when to introduce them, and the most important rules of responsible pacifier use.
Despite the very valid reasons why someone may not choose to use a pacifier (such as the impact on shaping the oral cavity, problems with overuse, having to fish for dropped pacifiers constantly, or yet another artificial nipple in your baby’s mouth, just to name a few), there are some very valid reasons to use them. Some populations such as premature infants, infants needing pain management, or infants with underlying medical issues may benefit greatly from therapeutic pacifier use.
Babies with reflux, who appear to be cueing, but really are seeking to comfort suck can find some comfort with a pacifier while the underlying issues are being sorted out.
And, for those moments when we accidentally miss the early feeding cues and find our baby is upset and needs to calm down before they can focus on latching, brief pacifier use before a feeding may be a hugely helpful tool.
Just like bottles, pacifiers come in all different shapes, sizes, and marketing promises. And just like bottle nipples, I recommend a narrow cylinder shaped pacifier to support tongue grooving over bulbous, flat, or funky shapes.
One thing to consider if choosing to offer a pacifier, is when to introduce it. If you are exclusively breastfeeding and following your infant's cues, you likely won’t need it until breastfeeding is well established. Somewhere around 4 weeks.
You can, of course, introduce it as a soothing tool earlier. In fact, many bottle fed babies do use pacifiers to soothe by sucking early on.
On the flip side, if you wait too long your baby may be less inclined to take to it or may have already found their thumb. Keep in mind, some parents prefer thumb sucking because it’s less plastic or rubber in their baby’s mouth, it can’t be lost, and it’s always reachable once they get the hang of it. (Of course there are pros and cons to both!)
Whatever you decide just remember the number one rule of pacifiers which is: do not over use it. Pacifiers are for pacifying. They are great when your baby needs some extra soothing support, to use in a pre-sleep routine, and when necessary can help them become calm and focused before feeding if they accidentally slip into hangry.
They are less great when you are replacing their need with the pacifier, such as: when they are hungry or thirsty, need snuggling or closeness, your attention, or a diaper change for example.
Pacifiers are a slippery slope, it has become so second nature to plug into a fussy baby’s mouth that it’s common to forget to consider their need before unconsciously popping it in. When caught in that routine, you can end up with a toddler who is speaking (or rather not speaking) with a pacifier hanging out of their mouth.
Pacifiers, like anything else, shape the oral cavity after repetitive use. So if you use them, then do so responsibly. Offer only as needed, as accepted, and within your routine. When used responsibly they can be a fabulous tool.
If you or your baby don’t want to use a pacifier, well, that’s perfectly fine! It’s important to remember, just because you offer, doesn’t mean your baby will want it. In fact, some don’t. And forcing the issue can backfire.
One more thing to know about pacifiers. It is perfectly normal for your baby to turn away from or push out an unwanted pacifier, but less normal for them to be unable to keep it in their mouth when they are trying to suck on it. This can lead to the need for a flat and bulbous shape, like a Mam pacifier, that hangs onto their mouth even without suction. When this happens, I like to know if there are any other feeding concerns and why they can’t get or maintain oral suction on their pacifier.
If you want the visual presentation of this information, including photo examples of the shapes of pacifiers, shoot me an email to get the free feeding prep course. Just email Barbara@FeedingByJanuary.com and I’ll send it to you. It’s meant to help make decision making easier when it comes to what you need (and don’t need) based on your feeding plan.