Pacifiers?

Do you all plan on using them right from the beginning? I really was leaning towards trying not to use them at all, and seeing if I had to. But someone mentioned something to me about it maybe being beneficial to helping protect against SIDS if they DO use a pacifier when sleeping.

Thoughts? Plans?
Thanks

Re: Pacifiers?

We will use one but I want to make sure that it doesn't go on for too long. For both my family and DHs - all the kids pretty much lost interest early on - need to ask the moms about that for advice.

Re: Pacifiers?

I did with my son and will with this baby. Babies need to S U C K and it soothed him. I got rid of it a little after his first b-day.

Re: Pacifiers?

Here's an interesting article from BabyCenter:

Pacifiers

Re: Pacifiers?

At the breastfeeding class I just took, they recommended not using one for the first week or two so the baby gets used to the breast alone... then add the pacifier later on.

Re: Pacifiers?

If the baby takes it then yes but I would like to get rid of it by 1yr old.

Re: Pacifiers?

I think I will use them. I was a thumb sucker myself and it was a hard habit to break because your thumb is always there as opposed to a "binky" that can be taken away at some point. My friend recommended using Soothies because that was the pacifier they give the baby in the hospital.

Re: Pacifiers?

Thanks for the advice ladies, and thanks for the article Ang!!

Re: Pacifiers?

I say offer it a few times here and there in the beginning. And if your baby doesn't want it at all...know this is one less thing to wean them off of later. I offered it to my DD occasionally for a the first few weeks here and there, she hated it and so I stopped. I remember my kid sister LOVING it and being able to trick her by tapping on the thing to get her to suck again.

Re: Pacifiers?

try it.....you have to do what works for you and your baby and DO NOT listen to what anyone else has to say.

As for right now, supposedly pacis are good....it's possible they can prevent SIDS (the article in the Parade/USA mag in this past Sundays paper stated this and if you got a different mag, I'd be happy to save it and send it to you).
IT's possible they can either keep the airways open, prevent the child from smothering itself.....

DD takes hers ONLY to sleep and we take one out in public in case she gets fussy or wants to sleep in the car.

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yes I plan to use it and mostly because of the SIDS evidence.

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I didn't want to use them however in the NICU they gave the babies them, so I couldn't take it away when they were used to it soothing them.

Re: Pacifiers?

After going to a baby care class at BRU, the pediatrician said it was OK to use them but ditch them after baby is 6 months. They start sucking on it too strongly and built pressure on the ear. So they may develop ear infections.

Re: Pacifiers?

we weren't planning on it until we realized we needed sleep and the pacifier helped with that. The SIDS study came out after that and it made em feel better - I will do it with this one too.

We did reduce it to naps and bedtime at 7 months and one day at like 18 months - just went cold turkey and we look back and think how we agonized over getting rid of it - but it was super easy.

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I will use them in the beginning but I dont want to make it a habit as he gets older. Kids get too attached and than it takes forever to get rid of them, it becomes a security thing for them.

Re: Pacifiers?

I was reading the other day that it should start at one month old....anyone else hear this? I did hear it prevent SIDS and also prevent them from rolling onto their face so it has great benefits, just not sure whey to wait until one month.

Re: Pacifiers?

Posted by Mrs. Patticakes

I was reading the other day that it should start at one month old....anyone else hear this? I did hear it prevent SIDS and also prevent them from rolling onto their face so it has great benefits, just not sure whey to wait until one month.

Re: Pacifiers?

Its an individual baby thing. My first son LOVED his. I only let him have it to sleep, so naps and nighttime only. It did become his security thing, and that was fine. He threw it away all on is own when he was 2. I never tried to take it away from him BECAUSE it was his security thing. I figured he would let me know when he was ready to stop with it. I always said before I had children that if they ever used a pacifier, it would be gone by 6 months. I think that something like this, like SO many other things, cannot be pre-planned. You just have to go with the flow and choose your battles.

DS#2 never liked it. I offered it to him as a baby, he always spit it out, so I was not going to force it on him. He has his "blankie" for his security.

You do what works for you and your baby.

Re: Pacifiers?

We plan on using one

Re: Pacifiers?

DD liked it in the very beginning while she was in the NICU...but, by 2 months old, she really had no interest in it. At 6 months...she won't even take one.