Is Pacifier Safe for Babies ?

A Pacifier, also known as dummy, teether, soother, binky or nibbler is introduced to calm the baby. We have brought this video explaining the pros and cons of a pacifier for babies and precautions while introducing pacifier to the baby.

Here is the video!

Below are some of the leading brands of pacifiers which you may choose for your baby :

 

GumDrop Orthodontic Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Holes in per side of the shield to let the air in the baby’s nose.
• Orthodontic Nipple.
• BPA, Phthalate and latex free.
• Silicone made.
• Naturally fits into baby’s mouth and stays clear of baby’s nose.

 

Philips Avent Orthodontic Pacifier

 

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Orthodontic pacifier
• Promotes natural oral development
• BPA free
• Glow in the dark
• Can be sterilised and dishwasher safe
• Comes with a snap to keep pacifier safe and clean

 

MAM Orthodontic Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Lightweight and comes in small size. Good for newborns to hold and suck.
• Large air holes. Keeps the baby comfortable.
• Made of soft silicon. Prevent skin irritations.
• Orthodontic Nipple.

 

Natursutten Orthodontic Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features

• Orthodontic nipple.
• Made from 100% natural rubber.
• Follows baby’s natural mouth movements.
• BPA, phthalates, chemical softeners, or artificial coloring free.
• Comes in one piece design. No place for bacteria and dust to accumulate.
• Soft on baby’s sensitive skin.

Playtex Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Orthodontic Nipple
• Created in consultation with a dentist. Promotes natural teeth and gums development.
• Snug and place feature that keeps ring in place.
• Air comfort shield to comfort the baby and do not cause skin irritations.
• BPA free

 

Dr. Brown’s PreVent Contoured Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Suction-free air channel.
• Soft, suction-release bulb spreads wider as baby sucks for low pressure comfort
• Helps to lower the pressures inside the mouth that can create dental issues
• Thin-stem design to keep the baby comfortable.
• Glows in the night.
• BPA free.

 

Philips Respironics Wee Thumbie

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Best for premature babies.
• First pacifier made for hospitals use only for use of very low birth weight babies.
• Comfortable for low birth weight babies.
• Size and shape is similar to preemie thumb.
• Facilitate sucking behaviors normally learned in utero.

 

WubbaNub Puppy Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Comes in one piece design. No place for bacteria in joints.
• Made for 0 to 6 months of babies.Not recommended for teething stage or babies with teething.
• Comes with attached plush animal toy.
• Easy for the babies to grasp and no chance of being lost.
  BPA, PVC,latex and phthalate Free.

 

Tommee Tippee Closer to Nature Moda Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Orthodontic Pacifier.
• BPA free.
• Symmetrical design.Easy for the babies to hold in mouth.
• Comes in classic and airflow shapes.
• Pacifier shape is similar to bottle nipple shape.

 

Disney NUK Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Orthodontic nipple.Promotes healthy oral development.
• Heart shield.Fits under baby’s nose and provide comfort to baby.
• Glows in the dark.
• Integrated channels for less palate pressure.
• BPA free.

 

NUK Newborn Pacifier

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• One piece pacifier. No place for germs or bacteria to accumulate.
• Orthodontic nipple.
• Comes in one size only for 0-3 months baby.
• Asymmetrical shape helps promote healthy oral development, naturally fits into baby’s palate.
• Integrated channels for less palate pressure.
• BPA free.

 

Chicco NaturalFit Pacifier

 

(Image©Amazon)

Features:

• Orthodontic pacifier.Support healthy oral development.
• Extra soft pacifier nipple.Made from 100% silicon. 
• One piece design. No space for germs in cracks or joints.
• Comes with sterilizable case. Easy to carry.
• BPA and latex free.

Following are the recommendations for using the pacifier:

• La Leche League International recommends that pacifiers never be used as a substitute for the mother’s breast or comforting. However, they also state that pacifiers can be of help to a breastfeeding mother when used judiciously, for short periods of time and in limited circumstances

(Source: NCBI)

• The American Dental Association states that pacifier is to be preferred over thumb sucking. Ordinarily pacifier sucking habit is easily controlled by the parents and easy to wean.
• Use of pacifier lowers the risk of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
• The Chicago Infant Mortality Study examined the sleep environment in 260 SIDS deaths within a primarily black, urban population to help reduce the incidence in this high-risk group. They found the use of a pacifier substantially lowered the risk of SIDS in their sample population.

(Source: NCBI)

• Take appropriate care and keep the pacifier clean to minimize the risk of infections in the baby.
• Do not coat honey or sugar on a pacifier and always use unflavoured one.
• Introduce the pacifier after one month of birth since breastfeeding is well established and the use of pacifier will not interfere with the breastfeeding process.
• Try to soothe your baby using other ways and use the pacifier at bedtime, reduce pacifier time slowly.
• Choose the right pacifier, which fits well into baby’s mouth.
• Pacifier is used to be given to premature babies to learn sucking but if an infant is not gaining enough weight, do not give pacifier and consult with Doctor.
• Child leave pacifier sucking habit by the age of 3 or 4 but if they are stuck with the habit, you should intervene.

 

References & Sources

• National Center for Biotechnology Information
• University of Rochester Medical Center Rochester, New York
• Canadian Paediatric Society
• Europe PubMed Central
• Askdrsears
• Mayoclinic