Sonograms are marvellous things – they show you the progress of a child within the womb; those little feet and hands, that tiny body swimming in amniotic fluid, and sometimes, a baby sucking on his or her thumb. “Infants and babies have a strong sucking reflex, sometimes they even suck their thumbs before they're born,” says Marcela Barreto, General Dentist at Dubai-based DentalZorg.
This reflex helps the infants with nutrition and has a calming effect on them, so it’s no wonder pacifiers are so popular. They are not a new invention of course, they’ve been around since at least the third century – these were not the good looking and sterile rubber creations of today; they were usually bunched up rags dipped in water or honey, beads or objects made of stone or bone or coral.
It would be 1901 before a suckling device that looked like the modern pacifier would be introduced to the world; Christian W. Meinecke applied for a patent for what he called a ‘baby comforter’. This comforter, reported New York Times, “Consisted of an India rubber nipple attached to a disk-shaped shield that kept the nipple from being swallowed by a vigorously sucking infant … Back then, the rubber nipples were processed with sulphur, which left them foul-smelling. Some were also tinted white, a process that tainted them with lead. The shields were made of bone, ivory or aluminium.”
Today, of course, the pacifiers are made with healthier material – and can be quite beneficial to an infant.
Barreto explains the pros of using a pacifier as:
- It can bring comfort,
- Act as a temporary distraction,
- Help a child fall asleep, and
- Have a lifesaving effect: There is evidence that pacifiers might help reduce the risk of SIDs (sudden infant death syndrome). The American Academy of Paediatrics said in its recommendations in 2016 that “using a pacifier has also been shown to reduce incidents of SIDS by 50 to 90 per cent”.
When is the ideal time to introduce a child to a pacifier?
Barreto says, “The ideal is to introduce the pacifier to the baby when a feeding routine is already established, at approximately one month old, when they have the hang of breastfeeding and for the onset of sleep. Let your baby set the pace; if the baby's not interested in the pacifier, don't force it.”
The ideal is to introduce the pacifier to the baby when a feeding routine is already established, at approximately one month old.
How to choose and care for a pacifier
Barreto recommends the following:
- Ensure the shield or guard is sizeable enough so that the whole pacifier does not go into the child’s mouth.
- Get a one-piece pacifier, as the two pieces can be hazard if they break.
- Keep it clean, read the fabricant instructions and go for the pacifiers that can be frequently boiled or are dishwasher-safe so you can run them clean.
- Don’t coat it with sugars or any sweet substances.
- Replace the pacifiers once in a while, to keep the appropriate size for your baby’s age.
- Do not fix the pacifier on the baby’s body, whether on the clothing or around the neck, and
- Never use a cord or clip.
Put a stop to it in time
While there are plenty of benefits to pacifier use, indefinite use can cause many health problems, warn doctors. “The majority of children lose interest in the pacifiers by themselves between ages two and four,” says Barreto.
The issues that can crop up include:
Dental problems. Using pacifiers beyond 36 months of age is associated with a higher incidence of malocclusion, like an improper bite or protrusion of the front teeth, she says. “The long-term use of pacifier can cause oral deformities such as crooked/crowded teeth, irregular bite and jaw alignment, overbite and deformities in the roof of mouth. A high palatal arch is also found in children who have a habit of sucking their thumb,” adds Dr Vaaruni Jain, Dentist at Sharjah-based Bhatia Medical Center.
The long-term use of pacifier can cause oral deformities such as crooked/crowded teeth, irregular bite and jaw alignment, overbite and deformities in the roof of mouth. A high palatal arch is also found in children who have a habit of sucking their thumb.
Middle ear infection. This can be associated with prolonged use of pacifiers, says Barreto.
Ear and throat infections. “The most common infections caused by use of pacifiers are of ear, nose and throat. This can happen if the child plays or throws around the pacifier and puts it back in his/her mouth. This can also cause fungal infection of mouth and throat in children,” warns Dr Jain.
Speech and language difficulties. The frequent use of a pacifier can lead to a forward thrusting of the tongue between the teeth, causing difficulties while pronouncing ‘S’ and ‘Z’ sounds.
If your child is still hankering for pacifiers at age three, intervene, say the doctors. “Patience and understanding are important when helping your child to say goodbye to their pacifier,” says Barreto. She offers the following tips for weaning:
Go gradually, slowly encourage less pacifier use. Start asking them to use their pacifier only at naptimes or in the evenings to help them fall asleep. Progressively decrease the daily amount of time.
Make it difficult to access. It is best if your child doesn’t see or doesn’t have easy access to the pacifier. Put it away when it’s not in use and offer it only in situations such as if your baby is sick, if they’re receiving a shot, or if you’re traveling on a plane.
Distract. Keep them busy, some kids want the pacifiers when they are bored. Keep them busy with toys or activities. Choose a replacement, allow them to choose a special toy that will be a comfort object instead of a pacifier.
Help them say goodbye. Tell them a creative story about where the pacifier is going. Maybe it's going to a magic land with the pacifier fairy or it is going help other kids. Decide on a farewell plan together, like throw a going away party.
Be mindful about the timing. Don’t start weaning your child from their pacifier if there is currently a stressful situation or big life event happening. It’s best to choose a calm period to start
Stay firm and supportive. After agreeing to take the pacifier away, they may still have a difficult time getting used to the situation and ask for the pacifier, might even cry for it. Allow them to express their feelings and stay supportive at all times, but keep your boundaries and stand strong. After a few days, they will get used to it. Don't give it back once you have taken it away.
Tell everyone involved in child rearing. Alert babysitters and family that it's time for the pacifier to go away. Tell them the techniques you're using so they can use them too.
As with all habits, consistency and planning are the only ways to shift aim.
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