Q: Are newborns too young for a soother? I feel like other parents will judge us for giving our fourweek-old infant a pacifier, and I’ve seen message boards talking about “nipple confusion.” Show
A: There’s no minimum age; pacifiers are even used in NICUs for non-nutritive sucking and comfort. However, in the first few weeks at home, a soother may not be a great idea because this is a period of learning: Parents are getting to know cues indicating hunger, gas, pain, illness, a need for sleep, or a need to be changed. If you’re still trying to establish breastfeeding or bottle-feeding, offer a feed before the pacifier. You can use one as soon as you’ve seen a weight gain, as early as 10 days of age. Download the free Today’s Parent Milestones app today!Discover valuable articles on pregnancy, baby and toddler stages. Plus, track feeds, diapers and naps and find helpful potty training and tooth-brushing tools. Young and older kids alike will love the photo fun stickers and borders to commemorate special moments, too!
Stay in touchSubscribe to Today's Parent's daily newsletter for our best parenting news, tips, essays and recipes. We believe you should always know the source of the information you're reading. Learn more about our editorial and medical review policies.on April 25, 2022 Latest update:See moreStocksy Learn more about when to give your baby a pacifier, pacifier pros and cons and what to know about pacifiers and breastfeeding. Back to Top In This Article
A pacifier can seem like magic: It’s easy, quick and for many babies it turns on the comfort and turns off the tears. There's no denying that pacifiers can work remarkably well at comforting your baby, especially if she has a strong need to suck but hasn't yet figured out how to get her fingers in her mouth. But there are some potential pitfalls to be aware of before introducing your baby to a pacifier. Here's what you need to know about giving your baby a pacifier. Should you give your baby a pacifier?Yes, you can definitely try giving your baby a pacifier. Whether your baby is fussy or she needs some help getting to sleep at bedtime, pacifiers can be an essential component of reducing the fuss factor. Pacifiers can also come in handy if your little one needs a distraction at the doctor's office or if her ears start popping on an airplane. On the other hand, some babies show little interest in them, especially if they find their thumb or their fingers first. And pacifiers do have some downsides, so weigh both the positives and negatives to make a decision that's best for your baby. When should you introduce a pacifier to your baby?It’s best to ensure that your baby has gotten the hang of breastfeeding (by around 3 or 4 weeks old) before you introduce a pacifier. That's because the sucking mechanism for breastfeeding is different from that used for sucking on a pacifier. Pacifier pros and consShould you pop that binky into your baby’s mouth at the first whimper? Here are some pacifier pros and cons to take into consideration: Pros of pacifiers
Cons of pacifiers
Continue Reading Below Read This NextCluster Feeding How to Get Rid of Newborn Hiccups Pumping Breast Milk Guide Cluster Feeding How to Get Rid of Newborn Hiccups Pumping Breast Milk Guide Pacifiers and breastfeedingDespite what you might have heard, there's not much evidence that pacifiers cause nipple confusion. And as far as throwing a monkey wrench into long-term nursing patterns or cutting the duration of breastfeeding short, the data doesn’t bear that out either. But just in case, it’s best to wait until your baby is around 3 weeks or a month old to introduce it. There’s no doubt that your milk supply is dependent on your baby’s suckling — which means that spending too much time with a pacifier in the mouth means less time at the breast, and that, in turn, can mean too little stimulation for your milk supply. Types of pacifiersThere are plenty of styles and sizes to choose from, and different babies show a preference for different pacifiers — so be prepared to switch around to find your little one’s favorite. (And once you find it, buy a few! It's always good to have backups on hand.) Here are the basics to consider when buying a binky:
Are pacifiers bad for baby’s teeth?Pacifiers really only become a concern for your baby's dental health once she turns into a toddler, when the continuing use of pacifiers is linked to recurrent ear infections (specifically inner-ear infections between the ages of 6 months and 2 years), misaligned teeth and changes in the roof of the mouth — especially if baby is still reliant on a pacifier past 2 years old. The most common dental effect in older children is an anterior open bite, or a gap between the front upper and lower teeth. Kids are also at risk of maxillary constriction (crooked, crowded and protruding teeth). Your best bet is to wean your baby off the pacifier by the time she turns 2. Pacifier safety tipsA few safety tips to keep in mind with your baby’s pacifier:
When and how should you wean baby off the pacifier?From the start, it’s a good idea to have a plan to ditch the pacifier down the road, once your baby is approaching her second birthday. At this point, the cons will start to outweigh by the pros — and your little one will be better off learning new ways to self-soothe. The bottom line on binkies? Make moderation your motto. If a pacifier works for you and your baby, don't hesitate to use it, especially at sleep times as recommended and at fussy times, when your baby really seems to need relief ... and so do you. Give one a try, too, if your little one has such a strong need for sucking that your nipples have become human pacifiers, or if your baby is taking too much formula because she’s not happy without a nipple in her mouth. Just don’t overuse your baby's pacifier — especially if binky time is cutting down on feeding or socializing time. It’s hard to coo or smile when you’re sucking. And try not to use the pacifier as a substitute for attention or other kinds of parent-provided comfort.From the What to Expect editorial team and Heidi Murkoff, author of What to Expect When You're Expecting. What to Expect follows strict reporting guidelines and uses only credible sources, such as peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions and highly respected health organizations. Learn how we keep our content accurate and up-to-date by reading our medical review and editorial policy. View Sources
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