8 Pacifier Harms And Tips To Put It Off

The habit of pacifying the baby is common to most families, especially in order to calm the child. Whether at bedtime, in times of pain or stress-prone, such as when taking blood.

However, it is not from today that it causes controversy. Some argue that all the harms of pacifiers do not justify use. There are those who point out benefits in using the accessory.

Anyway, besides the pros and cons, for many parents, there is also the question of how to? Replace? pacifier at times when it is necessary to calm the baby. Check below the main clarifications on the subject.

8 harms of pacifier use

But why is pacifier use generally contraindicated?

1. May harm breastfeeding

Nathália Sarkis, a pediatrician at the Santa Lucia Hospital in Brasilia and a full member of the Brazilian Society of Pediatrics, explains that pacifier use is associated with shorter duration of breastfeeding. This is because the baby's tongue positions itself differently during breastfeeding compared to the pacifier. This way, it can cause a nipple confusion and make breastfeeding difficult ?, he says.

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"However, each case should be evaluated by a multidisciplinary team in order to perform preventive actions regarding exposure to artificial nipples and early interventions of changes in the first days of breastfeeding," adds the pediatrician.

2. Increased propensity for ear infections

Using pacifiers, according to Nathália, there is a greater propensity for middle ear infections. "The pacifier provides a migration of microorganisms to the ear due to lack of stimulation of the membranous palate tensor muscle (mainly responsible for opening the ear tube and important in preventing otitis media)," he explains.

3. More chances of general infections

Does the pacifier fall to the ground and is often not properly sanitized? With all this, it offers risks to the baby.

Nathália points out that pacifiers are considered potential reservoirs of infection and may affect the immune system. Pacifier use is associated, for example, with a higher incidence of diarrhea, thrush, oral candidiasis, among other conditions.

4. May damage a child's teeth

Nathália explains that pacifiers can cause anatomical and functional changes. "The most frequent occlusal changes are anterior open bite and posterior crossbite," he says. It further increases the risk of tooth decay.

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5. May cause speech difficulties

Excessive pacifier use can lead to teething and speech problems, especially if use continues beyond the age of three.

As the accessory often stays in the child's mouth for a long time, it can cause structural changes and inhibit the imitation of sounds, babbling and the utterance of words in general.

6. May influence intelligence in adulthood

One study associated pacifier use with poorer performance in adult intelligence tests.

The hypothesis, as Nathália comments, would be that the child using a pacifier is less requesting for attention (from parents / caregivers). For this reason, it ends up being less stimulated.

7. May stimulate some negative habits

Nathália comments that there is evidence that prolonged use of pacifiers can be? Replaced? lifelong negative habits such as smoking, overeating or other compulsive disorders.

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8. Risks from the accessory

There is a possibility of choking and strangulation caused by parts of the pacifier that occasionally come off of it. In addition to the risk of injury to the mouth or nose if the child falls with a pacifier in the mouth.

Although the harms of pacifiers are widely addressed today, there are few children who have never used pacifiers at some point in their childhood. This is especially due to the pacifier's view as something? Therapeutic? ? what calms down? have passed from generation to generation.

In the face of so much controversy, it is still virtually impossible to talk about an? Ideal age? for the withdrawal the pacifier. But generally, around the age of two or three, most children begin to detach from the accessory? But of course, this is not a rule.

Is there any benefit in using a pacifier?

But a habit that has been passing from generation to generation certainly has some advantage.Check below what are the main benefits attributed to the use of pacifiers.

Feeling of well being

Nathália points out that the movement of suction from the use of a pacifier releases neurotransmitters that cause the sensation of well-being. "These positive effects are related to pain management in the newborn and also to the modulation of the baby's agitated behavior", he explains.

In this sense, pacifier use is also beneficial in reducing stress in babies during painful procedures. Use it when you need to collect blood, for example.

Solution for special cases

Pacifiers may also be indicated in special cases, for example to stimulate sucking in children with neurological disorders or to anticipate the onset of oral feeding in premature babies.

Protection against sudden death

Although the subject is quite controversial, there are studies that associate the use of pacifiers with a reduced risk of sudden death. One hypothesis would be that the pacifier prevents the tongue from falling backwards. during sleep (which would cause choking and could lead to death).

In contrast, breastfeeding is known to reduce the risk of sudden death in infants by 50%. And, since pacifier use is responsible for the shorter duration of breastfeeding, its use can also be seen as an aggravating factor for sudden death.

How to set the pacifier aside

A big question among parents is: what can I use instead of a pacifier? And for children who already use the accessory, how do they get their pacifiers left?

• Refer to other objects: Nathália suggests offering, for example, rattles and teethers.
• Keep breastfeeding: Remember that the baby has a physiological need for suction. Breastfeeding already offers this, helping to exclude pacifier use.
• Give affection and attention: Try to figure out the reason for the crying, talk to the baby and do it "nanar". These are very important elements when calming the child.
• Refer to the music: Calm and / or attractive music can help calm or entertain the baby. Studies have even shown that music associated with breastfeeding has calming effects.

In the case of older children who are already used to pacifiers, as Nathália points out, the ideal is for parents or caregivers to talk to their child. "Parents should talk to the child about their growth and the importance of leaving the pacifier," he says.

"They may allow pacifiers to be used at specific times of the day, such as before bed or during episodes of illness," adds the pediatrician.

Among so much controversy, being aware of the harms of pacifiers is fundamental. So as to understand what are the advantages of the accessory, be? Open to new alternatives? and asking your questions with professionals you trust are the best guidelines.

8 Pacifier Do's & Don'ts | Baby Development (May 2024)