Pacifiers: Why, When and How to Get Your Baby Used to It

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Pacifiers: Why, When and How to Get Your Baby Used to It

Key benefits of using a pacifier

Getting your baby to take a pacifier can be tricky because he either hates it or might lose it easily. As new parents, soothing your child is one of your most noteworthy precedences, and you may discover a pacifier exceptionally supportive.
 
“Babies love sucking,” says the expert pediatrician at Toronto’s Hospital for Sick Children. Sucking is the natural calming process for babies that soothe them. However, every infant is different. Some self-soothe themselves while others depend on different things to get calm.
 
A few babies can be soothed by cuddling and rocking and are comfortable to suck only during their feeding times. Others can’t get enough of sucking even when they are not hungry. If your baby is still crying even after you have fed, cuddled, burped and rocked, you might want to experiment and try using a dummy for them.

A pacifier can help soothe a fussy baby. The question is whether giving your newborn a pacifier might mess with the breastfeeding latch. Let’s find out.

When to introduce a pacifier to your baby

Most specialists recommend waiting until the baby is four weeks old before offering him a pacifier. The reason to wait till this mark is to let your baby latch on breastfeeding, avoiding nipple confusion. Though many types of research earlier stated that using a pacifier drops down a baby’s feeding requirement, but recent studies concluded that it doesn’t affect the breastfeeding at all.  “The ideal time to introduce a soother to your baby is when the breastfeeding is going exceptionally well,” says, Saunders.

How to get your baby to a pacifier

Once you have decided to give your baby a soother, the important part is how to give a pacifier to your baby. Following points should be kept in mind when you are about to use a pacifier.

     1. Choose the suitable pacifier

Pick a pacifier carefully! There are a lot of extravagant and fancy pacifiers available; however, your baby needs one that is suitable for his development stage. Numerous pacifiers have wide bases, so search for one with nipples that enable your child to breathe properly while sucking on it. For safety, pick a one-piece pacifier display instead of a two-piece to avoid the risk of the pieces breaking apart and posing a choking hazard to your baby. Boil the pacifiers regularly to kill germs and discard the soothers if they are worn out and have loose parts.

     2. Give the pacifier at the right time

The right time to give your baby a pacifier is when he is quiet, comfortable and calm. Do not wait up till he is crying hard and upset to the point that he might refuse to take the soother as well. Touch the pacifier to his cheek that will encourage him to turn towards it and suckle. Never give your baby a pacifier when he is hungry as it is not meant to meet the nutritional needs. Feed him well and if he is still restless only then offer him a soother to relax.

     3. Get your baby used to the pacifier

Make your baby suck on the pacifier for several times. He will reject it initially; try giving him after dipping it in breast milk or formula to let him get used to it.

Usually, babies are closer to their mothers and they reject the pacifier because they can sense the smell of their mother near them. To avoid this let the father be a helping hand and allow him to give a pacifier to the baby.

     4. Try different numbers of pacifiers

Babies tend to like or get accustomed to specific soothers and reject to have other ones. Always give a variety of soothers to your baby to avoid this. When you are traveling, it is better to keep more than one pacifier as you may lose one.

Pacifier is a great help to keep your baby calm. It not only helps the baby to become self-soothe and fall asleep sooner but also reduces the risks of SIDS. So, follow these guidelines and allow your baby to relax.

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