Pacifiers..

[C.Ann]

I'm a "grandma" now (technically a "stepgreatgrandma" as well - if you count my late DH's grandchildren's children) and I've been wandering over here lately to see what's new in the world of babies and parenting..

My DGD will be 11 soon and unfortunately, my DD lost several babies after that so she and her DH decided not to try for anymore.. She & I have noticed that so many things have changed - just in that short 11 years - and all of the neat gizmo's and gadgets that weren't available in the short time frame from then until now..

I hope none of you mind a "grandma" wandering over here, but I like to keep up on these things because hopefully DGD will one day become a mom..

So - what is the deal with pacifiers these days? Do people still use them? What do the pediatricians say about them? If you have used them for your own babies, did you find them helpful or not?

Just curious about the world of babies and toddlers now - I miss those days soooooooo much..

 

[Mommy2Julia&Brynn]

Pacifiers are now recommended by almost every pediatrician and health care organization because it is thought that they help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Nursing moms are advised not to give a pacifier until their babies have a good latch so there is no nipple confusion, but I've used one from the start with both of my babies and that was never a problem. The only problem is getting them to give up the habit! They were very helpful in soothing the babies and helping them sleep, but if they fell out while they were sleeping, I just removed it from the bed.

 

[Jdougherty]

I'm a mom with an 18 month old DD,

We use a pacifier, so have many of our family members for a couple of reasons:

1. Self soothing
2. Helps to prevent SIDS
3. un like a thumb, a pacifers habbit is easier to break.

We are slowly breaking my DD on her "Nuckie" dependancy, it's slow going but the ped says she doesn't really have to give it up till ALL of her teeth are in and set ( around age 2-2.5)

 

[C.Ann]

Pacifiers are now recommended by almost every pediatrician and health care organization because it is thought that they help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS)..

Really? This is amazing - and something I never, ever would have known if I didn't start this thread!! Thanks for that info!

 

[Jenvenza]

Yes, most hospitals will pop one in your baby's mouth without even thinking about it. We had no problem with pacifiers, but we were a little shocked when they brought me my DD from having her first little bath with a paci in her mouth! She is almost 2 and she still takes one. We are going to try and get rid of it by the time she is 2.5.

 

[tartemis]

My DD (now almost 2) never used a paci once she left the hospital NICU and we don't plan on using one for this baby (due in 11 days).

IMHO -- Hospitals use pacifiers because they don't have time or resources to soothe the baby by holding or rocking. In the NICU, they also used it to help premies coordinate suckingl, though.

I'm just not a fan -- of course, some people would probably just argue that my breast was the pacifer! But it was nice not having to worry about any dental problems (which is a real concern) and not having to worry about weaning it from her.

BTW, my pediatrician also never recommended that I use one and actually told me it was a good thing that we didn't use one for DD.

 

[here757]

oh man!!
ill share...
my family is upset with me cuz i gave one to my daughter. they told me i would catch heck trying to break her of the habit..

heres my reasoning.
my son who is now 6 never took to it. and i didnt force it. instead i let him sleep with a bottle of milk or juice.. big mistake.
at the age of 3 he had 3 root canals and 9 fillings .. the root canals ended up with crowns.. total out of pocket cost.. 600 bucks after insurance.

with my daughter i gave to her to prevent this.
i got her pedi blessing
once i explained to my father and mother they understood.


added.. i gave birth at portsmouth naval hospital.. they do not. will not give the babies a binky.. then again the nurse didnt care for the baby. i was expected to . they dont have a nursey!

recent studies do support the use as it is cutting down on sids.

 

[here757]

I'm a "grandma" now (technically a "stepgreatgrandma" as well - if you count my late DH's grandchildren's children) and I've been wandering over here lately to see what's new in the world of babies and parenting..

of course we count your late dh grandkids..

 

[LuvBaloo]

I find pacifiers to be a subject many people have very strong opinions about. My first DD used her "suckie" occasionally when in her car seat, but other than that was not interested. My second DD was a huge fan of her suckie and had it in her mouth most of the time. We went to Disneyland when she was 8 months old, and its in her mouth for most of the pictures. I don't like seeing kids walking around with suckies in their mouths, so once she started walking, we started making suckie time only for in bed. She was in daycare 5 days a week, and they cooperated, she actually asked for it less there than she did at home. When there's 4-6 other kids around, there's so much going on she didn't miss it. Then somewhere between 18months and 2, I put them away and told her they were lost and she was fine with it.

My nephew also loved his suckie, and always wanted the handle turned up touching his nose. If anybody flipped it down, he'd push it back up instantly.

A co-worker is strongly against suckies and when she received one in a gift basket at her shower, quickly said "Cute, but I definitely won't be using it!" I thought it was odd to be that vocal about it.

It is amazing how quickly things change as far as what has changed with how to deal with babies. I think I'll start a thread about that.

 

[4HppyCamprs]

There is so much conflicting information on this. It is one hot topic. I didnt give DS #1 a paci because I had heard so much bad about them by the time my pedi told me it was okay to give one he no longer had any interest and was past the age of having intense sucking needs.

So with DS#2 here we were okay with giving a paci, new sids info and such but with breastfeeding we were advised to wait til 4 wks to introduce and all the baby books say to take the pacifier away at 3 months to prevent a dependency on it. So what was the point. He did get it for the two months but has given it up pretty easily as he doesnt have the intense sucking need and is teething now and using a variety of teethers.

I wish we knew for certain what causes SIDS so we could prevent it 100%

 

[zoemurr]

names for it.. we called it a "plugger" 'cause it plugged up the noise.

Both of my kids were only allowed to have them in bed (as soon as they could understand that concept) and we took them away at about 2.5. Both cried for it for a night or two, and then it was forgotten.

Now that they are 8/10 I sometimes wish I could make them be quiet that easily.

 

[C.Ann]

Yes, most hospitals will pop one in your baby's mouth without even thinking about it..

Again - something new since my DD gave birth to my DGD.. Very interesting!

I think I'll start a thread about that.

Great idea! I would be very interested in reading that thread..

 

[dayzemair]

I'm a fan - but I do think that you have to prepare yourself and be strong about getting rid of it after about a year or year and a half - my daughter was pretty good about getting rid of hers and my son only really uses his at bed or nap time but I definitely think you have to be tough about getting rid of them rather then letting it drag on.

It did start to affect her two front teeth towards the end of when she had it- they started pushing out a bit, but as soon as we got rid of it they went right back into position

 

[WantToGoNow]

I think pacifiers are good for small babies - it helps soothe them and they are a whole lot easier to break than the thumb.

All 3 of my children had pacifiers. Dd25 had hers the longest - until her 4th birthday. I would take it away but while I was at work my mom/dad would give it back - it was a long, hard battle. She ended up with braces due to a "overbite" that was caused from the pacifier. Ds8 had his until he was 2. One night when he went to sleep his "tee-tee's" just disappeared and we never saw them again. He cried for it for 1 night. Dd5 had hers until she was 18 months old. Same thing as ds - after she went to sleep, I crawled around in/under her bed and found all of the "na-na's" and did away with them. She looked for it when she got up and never mentioned them again.

 

[natnelliesmom]

My first DD never seemed to need a pacifier. We just never offered it as she was easy going and didn't seem to need to suck.
My second DD was another story! She screamed for a solid 3 months. I sure wish she would have taken to a pacifier. We tried every binky on the market and every trick to get her to keep it in- but no go! She just wanted Mommy's breast and nothing else.
I am not a big fan of older children using them- and HATE seeing them in photographs. I feel it should be used to soothe a child to sleep, or to calm an infant. Not an all day long companion!
I am 4 days away from delivering my 3rd DD, and we have a couple of pacifiers here to see if she'll take one. I'm hopeful but not going to be surprised if she won't like it. Our trip to WDW will be easier if she likes the binky!
If anyone knows any good tricks- feel free to fill me in!
-Sarah

 

[kwitcherkicken99]

Gee... and all this time I thought pacifiers were to give moms peace of mind!!! LOL!!!

I used pacis for both kids. DS was off the pacifier by 18 months because he started having reoccuring ear infections. We did wait until he got all of the teeth he was going to get and once he chewed holes in them, they were gone.

DD uses them for bedtime and when her teeth are really bugging her. She's never been much of a pacifier kid, but they keep her happy, so who am I to complain??

 

[dyna]

Didn't use pacifiers to much with the 1st 2 who ended up being thumb suckers with one of them still sucking thumb at 13 when DD #3 came along used pacifier with that one figured I'd be more in control of when the me me went away.

 

[ladyv]

We use a paci but only for nap and bedtime now.

The one thing that I haven't seen anyone comment on is that paci's can contribute to ear infections - esp as they get older past a year. Both our pedi and the pediatric ENT Dr. told us that and encouraged us to cut way back on using it for DS.

 

[cassiez76]

since i was going to breastfeed, we didn't use a paci right away. the hospital asked us what we wanted to do.

but since i have psoriasis and a super low milk supply (try an oz if that when feeding, baby did NOT like that at all!) so he went on formula. after he went on formula, he would cry or try and suck on our fingers.

once we popped in the paci (the silicone i think, none of the rubber kind) he was just fine with it. i think that's what he was looking for. he wanted something to occupy his time. also now, he holds it by the nipple part and chews on the little nubs on the ring part. ahh...teething.

i'm not worried about him and the paci. i have a great dentist and if it helps him go to sleep, then i have no problem. better than hearing him scream now. he'll be 8 months on the 15th.

 

[pyrxtc]

Pacifiers are now recommended by almost every pediatrician and health care organization because it is thought that they help prevent Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). Nursing moms are advised not to give a pacifier until their babies have a good latch so there is no nipple confusion, but I've used one from the start with both of my babies and that was never a problem. The only problem is getting them to give up the habit! They were very helpful in soothing the babies and helping them sleep, but if they fell out while they were sleeping, I just removed it from the bed.

Really? This is amazing - and something I never, ever would have known if I didn't start this thread!! Thanks for that info!

Well, take it all wiht grain of salt since nothing I was reccomended to do for my DS's was anything like I was told to do for DD. Every magazine knew what was best and then they all changed thier minds.

I, personally, hate pacifiers. I hate seeing kids walk around wiht it and yelled at the nurse when my DS came in my hospital room wiht one in his mouth after he was born and I ahdn't even nursed him yet. Told her she better not dare try that again. DH let that DS have it a little but I cut it off at 6 weeks old. That DS had issues nursing and quit after 6 months, not saying it was the pacifier but you never know. neither of my other two children had it and no problems nursing wiht either. both went over a year.