Website companion to Balancing Breast and Bottle: Reaching Your Breastfeeding Goals
Ouch!
This baby is sucking on a common pacifier shape. Notice how the baby's lips remain tightly closed around the nipple. If the baby transferred this same suck to her mother's nipple~ ouch!
In Balancing Breast and Bottle . . .
Learn about the four common pacifier shapes on the market, and how different shapes influence a baby's tongue placement and movement.
Discover how to protect your breastfeeding relationship by the six-step list of when to avoid using a pacifier.
Find recommendations for age of pacifier weaning.
Examine pacifier use as it relates to the prevention of SIDS (Suddent Infant Death Syndrome).
Is it okay to use a pacifier?
Maybe
There isn't a clear answer. Every family is different. If a mom will be separated from her baby, and sucking is soothing and makes her baby feel happy, a pacifier may help fill that void during separation.
One problem
Too often we see a pacifier used as a quick-fix to make a baby happy. It replaces the need for parents to investigate the underlying problem. Is the baby hungry? Bored? Tired? The pacifier should not take the place of parenting.
Delay introduction
Wait
Pacifier use is generally not recommended for breastfeeding babies, particularly in the early days. Research suggests to delay pacifier introduction for at least 3 weeks.
