Do you believe pacifiers or dummy's for babies are beneficial?

Question

Some say that pacifiers can relax babies too much and they need to learn comfort themselves and learn to deal with natural stresses. How true do you belive this to be.

Answer 1

They were helpful for me when I had a crying baby needing soothed... I used them for about 5-6 months with each of my children.

I think they can cross the line and become a disgusting, teeth-destroying oral fixation pretty easily.

Answer 2

Experts will tell you that newborns NEED that sucking reflex on a pacifier to relax. The problem is when they keep it too long! I stopped my 1st daughter and son around 8 to 9 months and they had very little problems. Our baby, the 2nd daughter, we waited until she was almost 11 months. She gave more of a fight! I would suggest taking it away, except at night time and naps around 8 months. Then around 9 to 10 months, take it away all together. That seemed to be the cut off of dependency for my kids. They do need to comfort themselves, but that can come around the 8 to 10 month time of taking away the pacifiers.

Answer 3

I, personally, was totally against the idea until I gave birth. Afterwards, I learned that a pacifier would soothe my colicky baby--sucking helps to relax them. I certainly did not want them sucking their thumbs. I would certainly recommend having 5 or 6 on hand so that if it gets lost, you'll have another. Also, a pacifier should be sterilized daily. I absolutely hate to see a toddler walking around with a pacifier, though.

Answer 4

When I had my baby I decided that I wasnt going to give her a dummy - what she has never had she cant miss right? Well how wrong could I be - I didnt get a dummy for her - for about 2 days after I had her she cried all the time - being a first time mum I thought it was something I was doing - she was feeding fine (I know this because my milk didnt come through for a week after I had her and she was in special care nursery as she was small and they knew how much was going into her) anyway my husband stuck his little finger in her mouth and she started sucking straight away and was quiet and happy so he bought a dummy and brought it into the hospital and she was a very good baby from thereon.

I just think some babies want and need the dummy and others are not interested - I thought I was going to choose for my baby but she made that decision for herself LOL

Answer 5

relax babies too much? Look these poor little people will have enough stress in thier lives as they get older why in the world do babies need to learn to deal with stress? We are supposed to take care of them and comfort them however we can so they can lean the things they need to learn without added stress. That being said pacifiers are also a parent help which is why I always called it what it is a Plug. My daughter had one and she deals with stress much better (she is now 15) than her friends who never had one nor were allowed to suck their thumbs. Stress comes soon enough use every effort to not allow babies to feel it

Answer 6

I believe it's true that all babies have a natural sucking reflex and they like the comfort of a pacifier. I do not believe that it helps them comfort themselves because technically they aren't--the pacifier is comforting them. I think that as long as the baby is happy and there's a date as to when the pacifier will go it's beneficial to both parents and child.

Answer 7

Pacifiers are great so long as you are not using them as an alternative to picking up and comforting your baby. I see too many women at the mall who never pick up their baby--just plug them in, for hours at a time. That is poor use, IMHO.

Long use of pacifiers can cause teeth problems, but most kids give them up by 2 anyway.

Answer 8

To a certian age babies should have pacifiers. They are reccomended now for infants. They are made orthodontically correct so they will help to naturaly shape the babies mouth teeth and gums.

Babies also have a need to suck. If no paci then they'll use their hands, feet, toys, etc. all of wich can be harmful to development of the baby's mouth.

After a certian point they need to be taken away so babies can learn to sooth themselves. I say around age 1-2 at the latest!

Hope this helps shed light on pacifiers.

Answer 9

Pediatricians now actually recommend pacifiers for newborns because it somehow cuts down on the risk of SIDS. My son used a pacifier while he slept/to go to sleep for the first 3 months. After that, I gradually weaned him off of it. I'm happy to say that now, at 6 months old and past nearly all risk of SIDS, he never even looks at a pacifier. We've thrown them out and he goes to sleep on his own in his crib, which is right next to our bed. As far as wanting to suck on something, we found a little mesh feeder at Wal-Mart, which you can open up, put bits of food into, and then the baby will suck and bite on it (very helpful, since my little man is teething now). The food comes out through the mesh, so there's virtually no risk of choking. I like it because I can put in anything from bananas, to cooked veggies, to baby juice frozen into ice cubes to soothe his sore gums. I prefer this method, because, unlike sucking on a pacifier, he's getting his sucking and biting needs fulfilled as well as getting some important nutrients in the process!

Answer 10

Do whatever works for you to have a peace of mind, every baby is different when it comes to comfort. Some take a pacifier some take a blanky.

Answer 11

I recommend using a pacifiers for babies. They need to suck and it helps them relax. I wish my mother believed in them back them they did not use them that much (30 years ago). I used my thumb and i did damage to my teeth. I had such an overbite and ended up with TMJ.

Use your best instinct and what ever feels best for you and your child. When you try it you will see if it work.

Best Wishes to you and your family.