Why does a pacifier soothe a baby

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Our Sponsors Log in Register. Log in Register. Ages and Stages. Healthy Living. Well, sucking on a nipple is different — clearly from your side of things, but also for baby — than sucking on a pacifier.

Some newborns may find it easier to suck on the pacifier. This can make it more difficult for them to latch on for breastfeeding. Or, they may use their energy to suck on the pacifier and then fall asleep or be less interested in breastfeeding when feeding time comes.

Breastfeeding can be even more difficult for preterm babies. This is because they may have smaller sucking muscles. Your nurse or doctor may recommend waiting to use a pacifier.

However, every baby is different. A AAP study suggested that offering pacifiers may help babies breastfeed only. The research followed babies in a newborn unit who were breastfed with and without also being offered pacifiers:. So, one theory is that pacifiers may help keep babies content and distracted between breastfeedings.

Without them, some mothers may offer the bottle between breastfeeding sessions. If you baby is exclusively bottle-feeding from the start, you should be able to give a soothing pacifier right away. Pacifiers are also linked to lowering the risk of sleep-related death in babies.

Sudden infant death syndrome SIDS is the most common cause of death in babies between 1 month and 1 year. Several medical studies have found that giving your baby a pacifier while they sleep may be associated with a reduced risk of SIDS, possibly by more than half.

Medical organizations are taking note, too. Pacifiers may help protect your baby from SIDS and suffocation during sleep for several reasons. They might make it harder for your baby to roll over onto their stomach. Tummy time is great under your watchful eye, but sleeping on the stomach is the riskiest position for SIDS. Other researchers think that sucking on a pacifier might help babies develop better nerve reflexes and breathing muscles.

Give your baby their favorite pacifier as you lay them down on their back for sleep or a nap. Here are some pacifier pros and cons to take into consideration:. Despite what you might have heard, there's not much evidence that pacifiers cause nipple confusion. Best Pacifiers Cluster Feeding. And once you find it, buy a few! It's always good to have backups on hand. 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 paci 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 baby off the pacifier by the time she turns 2. At this point, the pros will start to be outweighed by the cons — and your little one will be better off trying to figure out how to self-soothe in other ways.

The bottom line on binkies? Make moderation your motto. Pacifiers can be very helpful in comforting your little one during times of distress, because the suckling action helps babies soothe themselves. Pacifiers can be given to breastfed babies. Pacifiers can be given to a healthy breastfed baby from birth. Studies have shown that the use of a pacifier in healthy breastfeeding babies, starting from birth or after lactation is established, did not significantly impact the frequency or duration of exclusive and partial breastfeeding up to 4 months of age.

However, you may wish to consider introducing a pacifier after you and your baby are comfortable with breastfeeding.

Pacifiers negatively affect teeth. When used responsibly and within the recommended time limits, pacifiers should not negatively affect developing teeth or cause crooked teeth. Experts recommend limiting pacifier use to a maximum of 6 hours per day.

The American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry recommends weaning from the pacifier should start by 3 years old at the latest. Pacifiers can provide pain relief to your baby. The act of sucking on a pacifier can help your little one calm and soothe themselves. This is especially true during episodes of teething, as your baby might feel very uncomfortable and experiences aches and soreness. A pacifier can offer some relief to that discomfort.

Pacifiers cause colic.