The Negative Effects of Pacifiers

Doctors and health professionals have expressed their concerns and opinions on the use and the abuse of pacifiers. They placed emphasis on the fact that it can cause nipple confusion in infants, and it is also often associated with premature weaning. A newborn infant will suck on anything that is placed in their mouths, and a pacifier is not an exception. This urge to suck may become an alternative for feedings, especially with small, ill, jaundiced, or easygoing babies. Sometimes there is satisfaction simply by sucking. Using a pacifier in instances such as in an attempt to get the baby to sleep for a longer period of time, can cause problems such as poor and slow weight gain. For the mother, it can be the cause of mastitis, a decrease in the supply of milk, or plugged lactation ducts. It can also make the baby lazy, since he or she will get used to the way that the pacifier stimulates the back of his mouth, automatically stimulating the sucking reflex. The baby will then have difficulty drawing his or her mother's nipple into the mouth far enough back to produce the same sucking reflex. The pacifier can also have some effects on the baby's arch in the soft bony roof of the mouth. It can mold it higher and narrower around the pacifier's shape.

If you really have to use a pacifier, you have to look out for the two most common harmful practices. First of all, never tie the pacifier unto a string. Most parents think that this is a good idea, since it will be within the baby's reach whenever it is needed. The fact is that this is extremely dangerous for the baby. When the baby learns to crawl or walk, it could become a strangulation hazard. Second of all, never dip the pacifier in honey or any sweet food, because it may introduce cavities to the baby's teeth. If a cavity will develop, it will be very hard for the baby, since it could result in severe pain. Babies do not get regular check-ups from the dentist, so it is best to let them avoid sweet foods.

Finally, never use the pacifier if your baby is not fussy or upset, or whenever it is not necessary. Most parents think that when they use a pacifier, they are pacifying the baby. But the fact is that they are using it for the purpose of making things easier for them. The next time you use a pacifier on your baby, think about it.