The Finest Pacifiers for Breastfed Infants

Utilizing pacifiers with breastfed infants at all times appears to be a controversial matter. Can my child have a pacifier? Ought to I wait to introduce one? Will it trigger nipple confusion? What are the most effective pacifiers for breastfed infants? The questions may go on. The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) 2022 updated breastfeeding guidelines studies {that a} overview reveals introducing a pacifier earlier than or after the mom and child duo set up breastfeeding doesn’t affect the length of breastfeeding for a wholesome, full-term child up till 4 months of age.¹

It’s possible you’ll assume, “That is nice information, however is there a catch?” Probably not, however listed here are some tips to be sure you and your child use a pacifier appropriately to not interfere with breastfeeding. In the end, the choice is as much as you, the mum or dad — pacifier or no pacifier. Let’s dive into the advantages, dangers, and steering for find out how to choose the most effective pacifier for breastfed infants.

Advantages of Pacifier Use

It is likely to be onerous to consider, however there are advantages to toddler pacifier use. Let’s begin with some of the necessary advantages. Analysis has proven that when an toddler makes use of a pacifier when positioned to sleep, it might lower the chance of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS). Pacifier use has additionally been proven to supply infants consolation, has been related to serving to infants once they’re in ache, and even will help untimely infants develop a sucking reflex. And lastly, introducing the pacifier decreases the chance of growing a thumb- or finger-sucking behavior.²

Dangers of Pacifier Use

You could at all times weigh the advantages and dangers to find out what’s greatest to your child. That is even true when deciding whether or not to introduce a pacifier to your breastfed child. There are a handful of advantages to pacifier use but in addition dangers. One among these dangers consists of the affect of pacifier use on growing otitis media as an toddler and later as a toddler. Pacifiers additionally pose an elevated danger of inflicting issues reminiscent of oral yeast infections on account of carrying micro organism and different germs. And, after 36 months outdated, the chance of growing dental and orthodontic points rises.²

Essential Word for Pacifier Use for Breastfed Infants

Pacifiers are a superb instrument for helping babies soothe and relax when upset. It’s important to pay shut consideration to your infant’s hunger cues. Don’t delay or miss a feeding by giving your child the pacifier. The pacifier ought to by no means be an alternative to the breast.

How one can Select a Pacifier for Breastfed Infants

The AAP provides the next steering on selecting a pacifier:³

• The pacifier shouldn’t be in a position to come aside. A number of items can improve the chance of choking. The pacifier ought to be of single development.
• The pacifier ought to have air flow holes and measure at the very least 1.5 inches throughout. This prevents the newborn from becoming the entire pacifier of their mouth, serving to stop choking.
• Don’t connect a pacifier to a twine or strap, particularly across the toddler’s neck. This might result in an damage.
• By no means use a bottle nipple as a pacifier. The total nipple may simply go into the toddler’s mouth.
• Don’t power a child to make use of a pacifier in the event that they don’t want it.
• Recurrently examine the pacifier earlier than giving it to the toddler. Pacifiers can break and deteriorate.

Though the AAP provides steering on what to search for in a pacifier, they don’t particularly suggest a sort or model of pacifier. The huge pacifier market has many shapes, colours, nipple sizes, and supplies. It could be a trial-and-error course of to see what pacifier works greatest to your child. A breastfeeding child could profit from utilizing a pacifier that intently resembles the mom’s nipple, however no analysis helps this.

5 Choices for the Finest Pacifiers for Breastfed Infants

Listed below are 5 nice choices for pacifiers for breastfed infants.

1. Philips Avent Soothie

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The Philips Avent Soothie, identified to many because the “hospital paci,” is a one-piece design fabricated from silicone. This pacifier has the bonus of being designed to help bonding via the power to put a finger within the nipple to encourage suckling. The nipple barely resembles mothers with a straight nipple and broader pacifier base. Its silicone materials additionally helps with oral improvement and makes it simple to scrub and sterilize.

2. Dr. Brown’s HappyPaci

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With a broader base and straight nipple, this pacifier resembles a mom’s nipple form. This can be useful when introducing the pacifier to the toddler. The HappyPaci is light-weight, fabricated from silicone, and has a singular “butterfly-shaped protect” that curves away from the nostril and cheeks. As for security issues, the pacifier is made of 1 full piece, minimizing the chance of choking.

When deciding whether or not to make use of a pacifier to your breastfed child, it’s as much as you. Do what’s greatest to your infant. Discovering the proper pacifier match may not occur instantly, however the market is huge. With the assorted supplies, sizes, shapes, and textures, there’s positive to be a pacifier to satisfy each child’s want. When attempting pacifiers along with your infant, you might must strive just a few earlier than discovering the most effective match.

3. Evenflo Feeding Stability

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This pacifier is designed by feeding specialists and has a cylindrical-shaped nipple, making it favorable for breastfeeding infants on account of its resemblance to a mom’s nipple. The pacifier is fabricated from 100% silicone and is one full piece, which is at all times really useful to lower the chance of choking. The silicone materials makes this pacifier not solely versatile but in addition very light-weight.

4. Tommee Tippee Breast-like Pacifier

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It is a pacifier particularly designed to imitate a mom’s nipple in the case of its really feel, flexibility, and skill to stretch. As a bonus, the bottom of the pacifier was created to curve away from the newborn’s face to permit for higher airflow and reduce irritation to the newborn’s pores and skin.

5. Nanobebe Flexy Pacifier

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The Nanobebe Flexy Pacifier is a comfortable, versatile pacifier designed to suit snugly round your child’s nostril and to their child’s assist the pacifier keep in place. It’s fabricated from 100% silicone, offering the comfortable, acquainted really feel of a mom’s breast. The silicone materials additionally makes it simple to scrub and sterilize.

We hope this record provides you confidence in selecting the most effective pacifier to your breastfed child.

Sources

1. Meek JY, Noble L. Technical Report: Breastfeeding and the Use of Human Milk. Pediatrics. 2022;000(0):e2022057989

2. American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry. Coverage on pacifiers. The Reference Guide of Pediatric Dentistry. Chicago, In poor health.: American Academy of Pediatric Dentistry; 2022:86-9.

3. https://www.healthychildren.org/

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