I had my daughter try a pacifier but felt guilty because my mom said baby pacifier addiction is bad. Here’s what I discovered from doctors and friends: what’s good for the goose is good for the gander! That is to say – what works for one child may not be good for another. Statistically, there is ambiguity around the belief an addiction to a pacifier will turn into a lifelong addition with alcohol or cigarettes, for example.
“While exposure to these events does heighten the likelihood that a personality disorder will develop, it is not the case that all abused, or otherwise stressed children go on to develop personality disorders. This observation suggests that multiple risk factors (both genetic and environmental) must occur in some specific combination so as to overwhelm a child’s system and cause them to later develop a personality disorder.” –
Baby pacifier addiction should have nothing to do with making them quiet
My first child’s baby pacifier was given as a gift, so we figured we might as well try it. She didn’t quite like it, and then we had someone else tell us that giving a pacifier is good. We did research to find out if she’s missing out on a lot by not using a pacifier, and our research told us one thing – there is no such thing as quieting a baby or using it as a “pacifying” tool. While a lot of parents may feel that it’s a good idea to pacify kids and keep them quiet, we feel there’s nothing pacifying about it. So, it’s important to know that the pacifier is a comforting device, not a device to keep the child quiet.
Why baby pacifier addiction is good
Baby pacifier addiction has their benefits. For one, it lowers the risk of SIDS. Doctors can’t offer an explanation on how it lowers the risk, but a lot of pediatricians are saying that using a pacifier while the baby is napping or sleeping will reduce its risk.
There are other benefits to baby pacifier addiction. In addition, babies have this natural requirement to suck on something, anything. Your baby can’t suck on a bottle or on the mom’s nipples 24/7 and a pacifier can help. This action is also very soothing for the baby.
On that last benefit, I feel that it’s the primary reason why parents use it on their babies. They want to calm their baby so they can be calm themselves. If the baby starts to show uneasiness, out goes the pacifier.
Giving my baby a pacifier is bad when it turns into addition
That’s my main issue against its use. I don’t want to be dependent on using a pacifier. If my baby starts showing signs of uneasiness, I want to be able to stop and determine what’s causing it and how to solve it. I don’t want to be one of those parents who’d ram the pacifier in the baby’s mouth just to make the baby shut up as the only solution. Nonetheless, if it’s just one of many tools in the kit for calming your baby – more power to you!
Baby pacifier addiction is not a replacement for eating
The pacifier may make the baby shut up because he or she may feel that she’s already feeding, but what the baby is getting is just air. I can’t have my baby feel full with air. If she’s hungry, she’s going to be fed.
Now, I’m glad to say that my wife is a breastfeeding mom. It works for her and it makes our lives easier, but we don’t believe breastfeeding is the only way to feed a baby. She’s still breastfeeding our daughter even if she’s almost 3. We found out that using a pacifier may interfere with breastfeeding. There are actually research studies that show how breastfeeding has slowed down and decreased because pacifier use got in the way. If you’re a breastfeeding advocate, this is a huge thing.
For babies who use pacifiers, you’ll have to break the addition.
Sooner or later, you’ll have to break the baby pacifier addiction and it’s something that I won’t have to worry about. This is because prolonged used can lead to dental issues. This is especially true once the baby teeth start to fall out. In addition, there are studies that show that it can lead to ear infections as well.
Lastly, what can you say about 5-year old kids still using the pacifier? I can’t blame them since it’s a really addicting habit. It’s soothing and calming. It’s basically like cigarettes for them. Unfortunately, it’s a hard habit to break. It may have helped you calm them in their early years, but there’s nothing calming when you try to take their pacifier away from them so you can break the habit.
If you have to ask the question is giving my baby a pacifier bad? Then it probably is bad, indeed!
Obviously, there are pros and cons to baby pacifier addiction. The cons manifest later on after prolonged use, but that’s the problem – it’s very hard to take it away from them. Personally, I’m happy that mine didn’t develop the habit. If you’re considering giving it and it is an option, I strongly recommend against it, but there’s also upsides that can’t be ignored.
My DD is 3 and I want to get rid of the paci!!! The analogy of the paci being the cigarette for children makes me wish I never introduced it in the first place. What to do????