A pacifier isn’t a substitute for nurturing or feeding, of course, but if your baby is still fussy after you’ve fed, burped, cuddled, rocked, and played with her, you might want to see if a pacifier will satisfy her. What are the disadvantages of pacifier use? Pacifier use may increase the risk of middle ear infections in babies and young children. Because the risk of these infections is generally lower in young babies, using a pacifier until your baby’s half birthday (when his need to suck is greatest) and weaning him from it soon after may work just fine β especially if he’s prone to ear infections.
It used to be thought that babies who used a pacifier before they got the hang of nursing sometimes experienced nipple confusion, which interfered with successful breastfeeding. But experts now say the research is conflicting, and there arenβt any studies that conclusively show whether the two are related.
Sucking on a pacifier can easily become a habit, and many parents don’t introduce one because they don’t want to deal with having to take it away later (or because they don’t like the thought of their 3-year-old walking around with a pacifier in his mouth).
If you allow your child to use a pacifier but want to avoid binky battles, take it away when he reaches his first birthday. Being careful not to overuse the pacifier can help make sure your child doesn’t become dependent on it.
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