April 2007
Pacifiers
A pacifier, a latex or silicone nipple mounted on a wide plastic shield, can be a sanity saver, especially when your baby
is fussy. "The sucking action will calm babies and can even help some of their jaw muscles develop properly," says Julie Barna,
a doctor of dental medicine and spokeswoman for the Academy of General Dentistry. Pacifiers also may reduce the threat of
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). In fact, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that babies up to age 1 use pacifiers
at bedtime and naptime because pacifiers appear to substantially cut that risk.
If you're worried that pacifiers can interfere with breast-feeding or damage teeth, consider this: The latest AAP guidelines say there's little evidence that pacifiers harm teeth before age 1 or cause infants to lose interest in breast-feeding. However, the AAP recommends waiting until your breast-fed baby is 1 month old before introducing a pacifier to ensure that breast-feeding is firmly established. See our report on how pacifiers can help prevent SIDS for more information.
You can give your baby a pacifier at bed or naptime during his first year or so, when the risk of SIDS is greatest. Using pacifiers at other times of the day probably doesn't harm your child, provided she stops by age 2, when the practice may cause protruding front teeth and an improper bite, and prevent the jaw from forming properly.
For some parents, a pacifier is a godsend. For others, it's a waste of money because some babies, especially those who are breast-feeding, don't like pacifiers and will repeatedly spit them out, no matter which brand or type you try. Will your baby crave a pacifier or be satisfied with the breast or bottle? You'll know soon enough.
SO MANY PACIFIERS, SO LITTLE TIME
If you find yourself in the pacifier aisle, you'll see a large variety--from angled pacifiers with a wide tip, frequently called "orthodontic," to a basic, round-tipped pacifier, advertised as "most like mother." "Orthodontic means that your baby's top and bottom jaw are in a correct position when he's sucking on it," Barna says. That position doesn't interfere with normal jaw growth and development and, in fact, may promote it.
According to Barna, most pacifiers sold in the U.S. are orthodontically correct, whether or not they're labeled "orthodontic." But look for the American Dental Association Seal of Approval on the pacifier package just to be sure. Pacifiers come in several sizes and are classified by age on the package, so it's easy to see which size to buy.
SHOPPING SECRETS
Check for recalls before you shop. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of Baby 2 Pack pacifiers because the nipple could become detached from the guard or shield, posing a choking hazard. For recent recalls, check the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
Be sure the base has ventilation holes. In the highly unlikely event that a baby sucks her pacifier into her mouth, ventilation holes will admit air. Pacifiers are required to have at least two ventilation holes in the shield, but check just to be sure.
Don't buy models with strings or anything else attached. Never give an infant a pacifier with a string, even if it's short. It's a strangulation hazard.
Buy silicone pacifiers only. Babies can develop an allergy or sensitivity to latex.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Major brands of pacifiers include, in alphabetical order: Avent (www.aventamerica.com), Evenflo (www.evenflo.com), Gerber (www.gerber.com), Mam (www.sassybaby.com), Playtex (www.playtexbaby.com), The First Years (www.thefirstyears.com, maker of the Soothie, popular among hospitals), Tigex (www.tigex.com), and Tommee Tippee (www.tommeetippee.com.au). Pacifiers range from $3.79 to $6.50 for a package of two. Novelty pacifiers, such as those that play music, may cost $6.99 or more apiece.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you decide to go the pacifier route, buy several in infant size, then buy more according to the manufacturer's age recommendations as your baby gets older. Try different brands and nipple shapes until you find one your baby likes (you'll know), but don't force your baby to use a pacifier if he doesn't want to. Some brands of newborn bottle sets come with a pacifier or two, so you might start there. Don't worry about buying the same brand of pacifier as the bottle your baby is using. Pacifier and bottle nipples may resemble each other, but they're not always exactly the same.
We recommend silicone over latex pacifiers because some babies can develop an allergy or sensitivity to latex. Silicone eliminates that potential problem and also tends to hold up longer. Over time, pacifiers can crack and tear. They can also become grainy instead of smooth. Check them carefully and often, and if you discover these problems, throw them away. Some manufacturers recommend replacing them every four weeks.
Use a pacifier between meals when you sense your baby needs something but isn't hungry. Don't sweeten the deal by dipping a pacifier in juice or anything sugary. If you want to dip it in something, use water. Giving a pacifier to a baby who wants food isn't a good idea, however. It can make a baby so distraught that he may have trouble calming down enough to eat.
Once you settle on a brand/type, buy several so you don't waste time scouring the house for that precious pacifier--or running to the 24-hour pharmacy to get your baby's favorite brand and model in the middle of the night. Keep two in the diaper bag--it's nice to have an extra in case you drop one or your baby spits it out onto the floor. And if you're traveling together, make sure your spouse is armed with one, too. If you're near a drinking fountain or a restroom, give your baby's pacifier a quick rinse-and-dry before giving it to him. Disperse several in key locations--the baby's car seat, near the changing table, by the rocking chair--so you always know where they are.
Before you use a new pacifier, boil it for five minutes to remove any chemical residue. After that, wash your baby's pacifiers often with warm soapy water by hand or in the dishwasher and squeeze the bulb to remove excess water. Frequent washing is particularly important for pacifiers used by babies younger than 6 months, whose immune systems are especially immature.
If you're worried that pacifiers can interfere with breast-feeding or damage teeth, consider this: The latest AAP guidelines say there's little evidence that pacifiers harm teeth before age 1 or cause infants to lose interest in breast-feeding. However, the AAP recommends waiting until your breast-fed baby is 1 month old before introducing a pacifier to ensure that breast-feeding is firmly established. See our report on how pacifiers can help prevent SIDS for more information.
You can give your baby a pacifier at bed or naptime during his first year or so, when the risk of SIDS is greatest. Using pacifiers at other times of the day probably doesn't harm your child, provided she stops by age 2, when the practice may cause protruding front teeth and an improper bite, and prevent the jaw from forming properly.
For some parents, a pacifier is a godsend. For others, it's a waste of money because some babies, especially those who are breast-feeding, don't like pacifiers and will repeatedly spit them out, no matter which brand or type you try. Will your baby crave a pacifier or be satisfied with the breast or bottle? You'll know soon enough.
SO MANY PACIFIERS, SO LITTLE TIME
If you find yourself in the pacifier aisle, you'll see a large variety--from angled pacifiers with a wide tip, frequently called "orthodontic," to a basic, round-tipped pacifier, advertised as "most like mother." "Orthodontic means that your baby's top and bottom jaw are in a correct position when he's sucking on it," Barna says. That position doesn't interfere with normal jaw growth and development and, in fact, may promote it.
According to Barna, most pacifiers sold in the U.S. are orthodontically correct, whether or not they're labeled "orthodontic." But look for the American Dental Association Seal of Approval on the pacifier package just to be sure. Pacifiers come in several sizes and are classified by age on the package, so it's easy to see which size to buy.
SHOPPING SECRETS
Check for recalls before you shop. Recently, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a recall of Baby 2 Pack pacifiers because the nipple could become detached from the guard or shield, posing a choking hazard. For recent recalls, check the CPSC Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
Be sure the base has ventilation holes. In the highly unlikely event that a baby sucks her pacifier into her mouth, ventilation holes will admit air. Pacifiers are required to have at least two ventilation holes in the shield, but check just to be sure.
Don't buy models with strings or anything else attached. Never give an infant a pacifier with a string, even if it's short. It's a strangulation hazard.
Buy silicone pacifiers only. Babies can develop an allergy or sensitivity to latex.
WHAT'S AVAILABLE
Major brands of pacifiers include, in alphabetical order: Avent (www.aventamerica.com), Evenflo (www.evenflo.com), Gerber (www.gerber.com), Mam (www.sassybaby.com), Playtex (www.playtexbaby.com), The First Years (www.thefirstyears.com, maker of the Soothie, popular among hospitals), Tigex (www.tigex.com), and Tommee Tippee (www.tommeetippee.com.au). Pacifiers range from $3.79 to $6.50 for a package of two. Novelty pacifiers, such as those that play music, may cost $6.99 or more apiece.
RECOMMENDATIONS
If you decide to go the pacifier route, buy several in infant size, then buy more according to the manufacturer's age recommendations as your baby gets older. Try different brands and nipple shapes until you find one your baby likes (you'll know), but don't force your baby to use a pacifier if he doesn't want to. Some brands of newborn bottle sets come with a pacifier or two, so you might start there. Don't worry about buying the same brand of pacifier as the bottle your baby is using. Pacifier and bottle nipples may resemble each other, but they're not always exactly the same.
We recommend silicone over latex pacifiers because some babies can develop an allergy or sensitivity to latex. Silicone eliminates that potential problem and also tends to hold up longer. Over time, pacifiers can crack and tear. They can also become grainy instead of smooth. Check them carefully and often, and if you discover these problems, throw them away. Some manufacturers recommend replacing them every four weeks.
Use a pacifier between meals when you sense your baby needs something but isn't hungry. Don't sweeten the deal by dipping a pacifier in juice or anything sugary. If you want to dip it in something, use water. Giving a pacifier to a baby who wants food isn't a good idea, however. It can make a baby so distraught that he may have trouble calming down enough to eat.
Once you settle on a brand/type, buy several so you don't waste time scouring the house for that precious pacifier--or running to the 24-hour pharmacy to get your baby's favorite brand and model in the middle of the night. Keep two in the diaper bag--it's nice to have an extra in case you drop one or your baby spits it out onto the floor. And if you're traveling together, make sure your spouse is armed with one, too. If you're near a drinking fountain or a restroom, give your baby's pacifier a quick rinse-and-dry before giving it to him. Disperse several in key locations--the baby's car seat, near the changing table, by the rocking chair--so you always know where they are.
Before you use a new pacifier, boil it for five minutes to remove any chemical residue. After that, wash your baby's pacifiers often with warm soapy water by hand or in the dishwasher and squeeze the bulb to remove excess water. Frequent washing is particularly important for pacifiers used by babies younger than 6 months, whose immune systems are especially immature.
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THUMBS DOWN ON THUMB-SUCKING |
