Approximately 75 to 85 percent of children in Western countries use a pacifier for a shorter or longer period of time. But is pacifier use really wise? Using the pacifier for the baby has several possible consequences for your child’s development, both positive and negative. More knowledge of the pacifier and its advantages and disadvantages ensures that you can make an informed decision. And which pacifier is most useful for the baby?
Pacifiers reduce the risk of cot death
A large-scale study shows evidence that using a pacifier while falling asleep reduces the risk of cot death. It is not clear how pacifier use can reduce the risk of cot death . It could be that the pacifier allows children to notice more quickly when they are lacking oxygen and therefore wake up in time to attract the caregiver’s attention. It could also be that the baby can breathe more easily through the mouth when this is no longer possible through the nose. The pacifier forces the baby’s tongue to the front of the mouth, which prevents the tongue from sinking easily into the back of the mouth and can cause breathing problems.
Different sleeping habits
There are also indications that the pacifier causes babies to adopt a different sleeping position, which reduces the risk of cot death. It is possible that pacifier use changes a baby’s sleeping habits and breathing, so the protective effects of the pacifier also occur when the baby is not using the pacifier.
Which children need the pacifier longer?
It turns out that not every child needs a pacifier the same amount and for the same amount of time. One baby is done with it after a few months, while another still wants a pacifier frequently after the second year of life. Factors associated with higher weaning use at three and four years of age include:
- Older age of the mother
- Higher education level of the mother
- Being the first born
The explanations for this are not clear. The time the mother spends with her child may play a role.
Pacifier and breastfeeding
It has been thought for a long time that the use of the pacifier had a negative effect on breastfeeding. Because the baby is already sucking on the pacifier, the need for the breast decreases, was one of the most frequently heard explanations. However, systematic research into breastfeeding and pacifier use shows no clear connection. More extensive research is needed before firm recommendations can be made.
Pacifiers do not seem to hinder breastfeeding
For the time being, however, the pacifier seems to work well in combination with breastfeeding. If breastfeeding does not start well, it may be advisable to temporarily stop pacifier use until breastfeeding is successful.
Pacifier and dental development
Many parents worry about the development of their baby’s teeth when using a pacifier . However, the pacifier can be used up to the age of two. If children over two years of age continue to use the pacifier, the risk of certain dental abnormalities such as an open bite (too much space between the upper and lower teeth) increases.
Pacifier and infections (middle ear infection and mouth infection)
Another concern of many parents is an increased risk of middle ear infection (otitis media) if their child prefers a pacifier.
Why is there a connection between the pacifier and middle ear infection?
Middle ear infections are common in young children. Pacifier use appears to increase the risk of a repeat middle ear infection in two ways. On the one hand, bacteria from the nasopharynx easily enter the middle ear, on the other hand, the pacifier can hinder the formation of the teeth of older children, causing the Eustachian tube (which is involved in middle ear infection) to function less well.
Which pacifier is useful for the baby?
There is a wide choice of pacifiers, so many that sometimes you can’t see the forest for the trees. What should you take into account when you want to buy a pacifier ?
- Take your baby’s age into account. The packaging of the pacifier indicates the age for which the pacifier is intended.
- A pacifier with a small ventilation hole at the top ensures that the pressure on the baby’s palate does not increase too much so that dental development is not hindered
- If your baby does not yet have teeth, a nipple-shaped pacifier is a good option. However, when the first teeth come through, it is better to switch to a different type of pacifier
- Most pacifiers are made of silicone, but you can also opt for a more environmentally conscious pacifier made of rubber, for example
- After purchasing, check whether the pacifier is safe by checking whether there are any loose parts and whether the pacifier is firmly put together