Isn’t it true that moms on TV make the experience look so simple? When a baby screams, a parent places a pacifier in the mouth. The little one then happily suckles on it, calmly watching the environment around them with a sense of wonderment. Meanwhile, your only issue is that your baby won’t take the pacifier!
Whatever your baby’s stance on pacifiers is, you’re probably hoping they’ll suck one instead of fussing over you while you clean or cook meals. Well, you don’t have to be concerned any longer because this guide will teach you everything you need to know about babies and pacifiers.
Benefits of Using Pacifiers
You might have placed a bunch of baby pacifiers on your wishlist with the hope that they will make your baby comfortable and calm. While this is sometimes true, sometimes it isn’t. However, did you know that using a pacifier has several scientific advantages? Here are some that you would want to know.
1. Pacifiers can calm and divert the baby
A pacifier may comfort and divert your infant long enough to give you some more time between feeding. It is a great option if you’re seeking to extend the duration between feeding times by just a few minutes.
It may also help your baby relax before bedtime and divert them from physical discomfort. In fact, some physicians advise using a pacifier for a faster routine procedure such as a blood test.
2. Happier and longer sleep time
Some newborns have a strong desire to suck on something. This is unrelated to their hunger and might keep them awake at night. Furthermore, some older infants desire nocturnal feedings out of practice, that is, they are accustomed to being nursed and fed when they get up in the middle of the night.
When your child is old enough, a pacifier might fulfil their desire to suck when it isn’t connected to hunger, enabling them to sleep for somewhat longer periods of time at night. It’s also a good tool for nighttime weaning.
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3. Pacifiers may help minimize the risk of SIDS
There has been substantial dispute on this topic, with different research yielding contradictory results. According to a 2005 analysis, several researchers discovered a link between the use of a nightly pacifier and a decreased incidence of SIDS (sudden infant death syndrome).
On the contrary, according to a 2017 research, experts found no proof that pacifiers are beneficial. Despite the findings of this research, experts noted in 2020 that previous case-control studies had shown a decrease in the incidence of SIDS, and also that, in the absence of higher-quality studies, pacifiers should be used.
It’s crucial to remember that there are several other variables at play, so it’s possible that the pacifier, but not the pacifier alone, decreases the chance of SIDS.
To lessen the risk of SIDS, many physicians recommend giving your infant a pacifier at nighttime, but parents might not have to push it. It’s okay if your infant refuses to accept the pacifier or retain it in their mouth.
4. Pacifiers can assist you with flight travel
Since newborns can’t pop their ears by extending their jaw to release the tension and pressure, pacifiers might be useful while flying with a small baby. As a result, nibbling on a pacifier may help to alleviate discomfort.
When and How to get a baby to take a Dummy?
According to doctors, “there is no magic to introducing the pacifier.” However, there are certain practices that you can follow if your baby won’t take the pacifier. Keep in mind that before moving to the pacifier plug, doctors recommend waiting until your child has developed a steady eating habit with developed latching.
You can begin using a pacifier straight away if you aren’t breastfeeding your baby. The American Academy of Paediatrics (AAP) suggests delaying the introduction of a pacifier, till your infant is 3 to 4 weeks of age if you are breastfeeding. In most circumstances, that’s the amount of time it takes for breastfeeding to become firmly established.
In this manner, you may be confident that the pacifier will not interfere with your baby’s feeding connection. It’s known as “nipple confusion,” and it’s a real phenomenon.
Some children just do not respond to the pacifier, which is nothing to worry about. In between feedings, they’ll most likely suck on the pacifier on their own or their parents’ fingers. Sucking your fingers has a bad reputation, yet it’s a natural inclination. It is one of a baby’s first instincts, and it serves as a comfort strategy.
Best Pacifier For Baby Who Spit Them Out
Back in the day, baby pacifiers were simply just a pacifier. There were few changes in the fashions, and most newborns used to have very similar pacifiers from one family to the next. But not anymore. There are now a variety of pacifiers available, and some parents might argue for days over which one is the best. This is what to look for:
1. Pacifiers with an open shield
The wide section of a pacifier’s cover or shield keeps it from being totally sucked into the baby’s mouth. In contrast to its closed shield cousins, which usually only have modest vents, open shield pacifiers feature large and ample holes within the shield.
2. Pacifiers that are closed or vented
You may opt to go with a regular vented style if your kid has no difficulties breathing when using a pacifier and also has no issues with discomfort around their mouth. Closed shields or vented pacifiers conceal more of the baby’s face, yet allow air to pass through.
3. Pacifiers that can be folded
If you find pacifier caps to be bothersome, a folding or foldable pacifier could be ideal. This pacifier’s nipple folds up or collapses itself into a pocket. At times, it also does this when it falls on the floor!
Recommendation: Tommee Tippee Ultra-Light Silicone Pacifier
Why Can’t My Baby Keep A Pacifier In His Mouth?
Since the sucking reflex is a crucial component of how a baby’s body acquires food, a young baby may have difficulty distinguishing between when they want to suck versus when they are hungry. As a result, it’s a good idea to wait for a minimum of a few days or even weeks before introducing the pacifier or dummy to ensure the baby is healthier and has a decent appetite.
How To Soothe A Baby That Won’t Take A Pacifier
Are you willing to check whether your baby will tolerate the pacifier? Here are some ideas on how to attract their interest!
1. Be patient even if the baby pushes the pacifier out with tongue
Does your child fail to accept the pacifier and pop it out right away? You’d certainly throw out a weird substance that tasted like plastics if anyone put it inside your mouth!
Anything, even pacifiers, is novel to newborns. As a result, it’s reasonable that they would need some time to admit this object in their mouth as a self-soothing technique.
Your child might not accept the pacifier right in the first attempt, the second attempt, or even the tenth attempt, but they may amaze you by grabbing it and being unwilling to let go one fine day. You’ll never know until you keep trying!
2. Adopt pacifiers with the words “for fun”
Whenever you’re irritated and someone advises you to “just try to calm down,” it really makes you much angrier right? When a baby is wailing furiously and you give them a pacifier, the very same thing happens.
To put it another way, don’t attempt to offer a pacifier for the first time while your baby is sad; it’s more liable to mislead them than to console them. Instead, give it to your kid when they are happy and peaceful; they’ll be more intrigued and eager to start something different and new in this manner.
3. Offer after each feeding if the baby is suddenly refusing pacifier
You’ll irritate your infant if you attempt to offer a pacifier while they are hungry: they need milk, not a bit of plastic. When you do this too often, your baby will realize that the unappealing nipple replacement isn’t beneficial for them and they would never desire it.
However, if you give your child the pacifier at night, shortly after they’ve been fed, they won’t expect it to feed them, so they’ll be comfortable and peaceful enough to consider sucking it.
4. Milk or baby formula can be used to coat it
Dip a pacifier in a small amount of milk if your baby doesn’t appear to know how to go about it. This will urge them to really take it into their mouth. It might or might not stay in place after it’s in, but it’s an excellent trick when your baby won’t take the pacifier.
Read Next: How to Get Rid of Baby Hiccups
Final Words
Every baby is different and if your baby won’t take the pacifier, then that’s fine; it’s not a medical problem, so don’t force it. On the other hand, some newborns take to pacifiers straight away, while others take a little longer.
If you truly want your infant to take one, you must be persistent. Follow the above-mentioned guide with patience and you will definitely get your baby comfortable with using pacifiers!
