Re: I've heard a hundred different opinions-- pacifiers, yes or no?
Forget politics! Once you're a parent, pacifiers are a farmore intense topic of discussion. Here are the pros and cons, spelledout by the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Pros
[ ] Babies love to suck -- a pacifier can soothe a fusspot or help a night-waker fall back to sleep on his own.
[ ] Pacifiers provide distraction, buying you time to make a bottle or finish a phone call before nursing. A pacifier can also work wonders while baby's getting shots.
[ ] Research links bedtime pacifier use with a decreased risk of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
[ ] The pacifier habit is much easier to break than thumbsucking- simply throw away those binkies when it's time.
Cons
[ ] Starting baby with a pacifier too early may interfere withbreastfeeding, because sucking a nipple requires a different techniquethan sucking a pacifier (or bottle). The AAP recommends waiting a month before giving a baby a pacifier, which will help him learn to nurse first.
[ ] If baby uses the pacifier at night, you might experience someloud pre-dawn protests when it falls out of his mouth and he can't findit.
[ ] Using a pacifier may increase the incidence of ear infections.Keep in mind, though, that middle ear infection rates are lowest duringthe first six months- when the risk of SIDS is highest. The trade offmight be worth it.
Ultimately, the choice is yours -- and baby's. Wait a month after delivery to establish a solid feeding routine, then try a pacifier if you'd like. If baby takes to it, great; if not, toss it.
Paula Kashtan | May 07 , 2009 4:22 PM