When pacifiers first came out they were not the best resource to give to an infant. Many mothers had concerns that their baby's teeth were at a greater risk of tooth decay because of the use of a pacifier. So with that being said, many mothers were not encouraging there infants to use them. Today, however research shows that using a pacifier every time you place your baby down to sleep can greatly reduce the risk of SIDS. Here are some simple steps for safe effective pacifier use:
* Offer a pacifier at nap time and nighttime. This will give your baby the most protection against SIDS.
* It's recommended that you wait one month to offer a pacifier if you are breastfeeding mom. Be sure your baby is nursing well first - the risk of SIDS is very low during the first month.
* Never use a pacifier to replace nursing or feeding, Offer a pacifier after a feeding when you put your baby down to sleep.
* Don't worry about putting the pacifier back in your baby's mouth if it falls out. Babies that use a pacifier regularly are protected, even if it falls out after they fall asleep.
* Don't force your baby to take a pacifier. Continue trying over several weeks before giving up.
* Never coat your baby's pacifier with anything sweet as this could damage your baby's teeth.
* Don't use a string or anything else to attach a pacifier around your baby's neck or to clothing. This could choke your baby.
* They also recommend that after the first year you should start limiting the pacifier.
Since, the first year is were SIDS typically happens. The risk of SIDS is very low after the 1st year so your baby doesn't need to suck on a pacifier as much anymore. With the information on how to properly use a pacifier with your baby you can use it to help protect your baby against Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS).
The information in this article was gathered from First Candle, an organization helping Babies Survive & Thrive.
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